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REUNIONS 


TAYLOR'S   BATTERY, 


1 8th  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson, 

FEBRUARY  14,   1880. 


25th  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Belmont, 

NOVKMBER  6,   1886. 


* 


77  »  79  Jacheon 

Citato. 


ff 

•t        W 


Copyright  1850. 
TAYLOR'S   BATTERY  ASSOCIATION. 

Reproductions  by 
Chicago  Photogravure  Co. 


"fl  Me  for  liberty,  bops:  go  back  anfc 
man  tbe  gun." 

— Dying  words  of  Oscar  F.,  Beckers  on  the  battlefield  of 
fort  Done /son. 


224571 


THE  OLD  FLAG. 


TO  CELEBRATE 

THE  EIGHTEENTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE 
BATTLE  OF  FORT  DONELSON. 

RE-UNION 

OF 

TAYLOR'S  BATTERY 


AT     THE 


GRAND  PACIFIC  HOTEL, 

FEBRUARY   i4'i'H,   1880. 


GENERAL  EZRA  TAYLOR,  PRESIDING. 


Capt.  Ezra  Taylor. 


1st  Lieut.  S.  E.  Barrett. 


ist  Lieut.  L.  I'.  Hart. 


2d  Lieut.  I.  P.  Rumsey. 


2<1  Lieut.  I'.  H.  White. 


OUR  FIRST  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 


.  REMARKS  . 

gOTH  EXPLANATORY  AND  APOLOGETIC. 


DEAR   COMRADE: 

This  book,  which  was  at  first  intended  to  be  only  a  report 
of  the  proceedings  at  the  Reunion  and  Banquet  held  on  the 
iSth  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  owing  to  the 
delay  in  preparation,  is  also  made  to  include  the  proceedings  at 
the  Reunion  and  Banquet  held  on  the  25th  anniversary  of  the 
Battle  of  Belmont,  seven  years  later. 

It  also  contains  a  complete  roster  of  the  Battery;  a  list  of 
the  names  and  residences  of  all  living  comrades,  so  far  as  known, 
and  photo-gravure  copies  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the 
Battery  as  taken  at  Memphis  in  1862. 

The  apology  for  this  delay  which  has  been  vexatious  to 
many,  is,  that  the  copy  was  first  placed  in  the  hands  of  Com- 
rade H.  W.  Dudley;  after  a  lapse,  of  some  years,  Comrade 
Dudley,  feeling  himself  unable  toTtend  to  the  matter,  turned 
the  copy  over  to  the  subscriber;  in  looking  it  over,  some  parts 
were  missing;  much  time  was  consumed  in  looking  them  up, 
with  poor  success;  the  copy  was  then  arranged  for  the  printer 
and  laid  away,  but  so  safely,  that  several  more  years  elapsed 
before  it  was  found.  Then  it  was  decided  to  include  the 
Belmont  banquet  proceedings,  and  subsequently  the  photo- 
gravure copies. 

1  am  sure  that  the  book  in  its  enlarged  form,  and  with 
the  additional  features  mentioned,  will  prove  a  source  of 
pleasure  to  all  comrades,  and  will  be  prized  as  a  memento  of 
more  value  than  its  simple  cost,  and  will  tend  to  cement  still 
stronger  the  friendship  now  existing  between  our  comrades. 
Your  comrade  in  F.  C.  and  L., 

C.  W.  PIERCE. 
CHICAGO,  Nov.  i,  1889. 


S^JBQSfi 


of 


BY    MRS.    MARY    J.    PECKHAM, 
BATAVIA,    ILL. 


HICAGO,  Queen  City  of  the  West, 

We  hail  thee  with  delight, 
And  thanks  to  thee  most  cordially 

For  the  welcome  here  to-night  ; 
Where  comrades  once  again  can  meet 

Each  well  known  face  to  see, 
And  clasp  once  more  the  friendly  hand 

Of  the  boys  of  Battery  B. 

Long  years  have  passed  since  last  we  met, 

Bearing  the  colors  true, 
With  canteen  black  and  old  knapsack 

And  our  uniforms  of  blue; 
Which  told  the  noble  story 

That  artillery  boys  were  we, 
And  belonged  to  Captain  Taylor's 

Chicago  Battery  B. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

Our  brave  and  gallant  captain, 

The  man  of  will  and  might, 
Who  ever  found  a  place  for  us 

In  the  thickest  of  the  fight. 
And  we  never  flinched  from  duty, 

Whatever  it  might  be, 
And  victory  crowned  the  efforts 

Of  the  boys  of  Battery  B. 

Three  long  years  we  fought  together 

In  the  great  and  bloody  strife, 
And  to  save  our  country's  honor 

We  each  laid  down  our  life. 
To  defend  our  starry  emblem, 

The  banner  of  the  free, 
None  quicker  rallied  to  her  aid 

Than  the  boys  of  Battery  B. 

Led  on  by  Captain  Taylor, 

Who  did  the  rebels  face, 
Was  promoted  to  a  Major, 

Then  Barrett  took  his  place. 
And  so  they  climbed  the  ladder 

Of  Fame's  most  high  decree, 
And  Rumsey  last  was  captain 

Of  Chicago  Battery  B. 

Our  Colonel  has  crossed  the  river 

In  his  frail  and  phantom  barge. 
Our  ranks  are  growing  thinner,  boys, 

From  the  great  and  last  discharge. 
And  while  we  live  upon  the  land 

We  struggled  to  make  free, 
Let's  meet  as  long  as  there  remains 

A  boy  of  Battery  B. 


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ORDER  OF  EXERCISES 


Reunion  of  Taylor's  Battery, 

HELD    AT    THE    GRAND    PACIFIC    HOTEL, 

ON     THE      iS'PH     ANNIVERSARY      OF      THE      RATTLE      OF      FORT 
DONELSON,    FEBRUARY     14,     lS8o. 

GENERAL   EZRA   TAYLOR   PRESIDING. 
VICE-PRES'T,    MAJ.    SAM'L    E.    BARRETT. 


ROLL  CALL. 

Introductory  Address,  Capt.  I.  P.  RUMSEY. 

Report  of  Taylor's  Battery  Ass'n,       W.  T.  SHEPHERD,  Sec'y. 
Letters  and  Communications. 

SUPPER  CALL. 

Prayer,  REV.  G.  R.  VAN  HORN 

SUPPER. 


TOASTS. 


Our  First  Battle — Fredericktown, 

Our  First  Retreat — Belmont, 

Our  First  Wounded, 

The  day  we  celebrate — Fort  Donelson, 


G.  R.  VAN  HORX. 

|\s.  F.  WHITTLE. 

D.  F.  CHASE. 

II.  W.  DUDLEY. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

Our  First  Surprise — Shiloh,     -  -  W.  T.  SHEPHERD. 

Our  First  Brigade  Commander — Gen.  W.  II.  L.  Wallace, 

Capt.  I.  P.  RUMSEY. 

Our  Swamp  Fight — Chickasaw  Bayou,  -  J.  M.  VERNON. 
The  Work  we  did'nt  storm — Arkansas  Post,  WALTER  SCATES. 
Lake  St.  George,  Raymond  and  Antimonial  Wine, 

C.  W.  PIERCE. 
Our  First  Siege  and  a  glorious  "  Fourth  " — Vicksburg, 

C.  E.  AFFELD. 
Mission  Ridge  and  Knoxville  March,  F.  O.  AFFELD  and 

CHAS.  TURNER. 

Resaca,  C.  J.  SAUTER. 

Dallas,  WM.  C.  SCUPHAM. 

Keuesaw  Mt.  and  Mill  Creek,  ARTHUR  BURNAM. 

Atlanta,  JAMES  W.  PORTER. 

Our  Supplies,  B.  F.  MCCARTY. 

Our  Noble  Dead,  G.  R.  VAN  HORN. 

SONGS  BY  THE  CHICAGO  QUARTETTE  CLUB. 

TATTOO.  TAPS. 


Proceedings  were  opened  with  singing  by  the  Chicago 
Quartette  of  the  "Soldier's  Farewell." 

The  Bugler  of  the  evening,  M.  LANG,  of  the  2oth  Illinois, 
then  sounded  "Assembly." 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  we  have  a  stenographer  to 
report  the  proceedings. 

Remarks  by  Messrs.  DUDLEY,  RUMSEY  and  AFFELD,  and 
motion  carried. 

The  introductory  address  was  then  delivered  by  Captain  I. 
P.  RUMSEY,  which  was  received  with  loud  cheers. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  next  in  order  is  the  report  of 
Taylor's  Battery  Association,  by  W.  T.  SHEPHERD,  Secretary. 

The  Secretary,  Mr.  SHEPHERD,  then  read  the  report. 

THE  PRESIDENT:     You  have  heard  the   report  gentlemen. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the  report  be  approved; 
which  was  carried. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  next  matter  of  business  before  you, 
gentlemen,  will  be  letters  and  communications  from  our  absent 
friends. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  9 

MR.  C.  E.  AFFELD:  I  will  state  that  these  will  take  con- 
siderable time,  and  perhaps  the  gentlemen  will  think  that  it  will 
be  better  to  read  them  in  the  next  room  during  the  course  of 
the  banquet. 

It  was  then  moved,  seconded  and  carried  that  an  adjournment 
be  had  to  the  supper  room. 

The  bugler  then  sounded  supper  call. 

After  the  members  were  seated  round  the  table,  the  Rev- 
G.  R.  VAN  HORN  offered  the  following  prayer: 

"  Oh  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  we  thank  Thee  that  so 
many  of  our  lives  have  been  preserved  during  all  these  years, 
and  that  we  are  brought  together  under  circumstances  of  great 
mercy.  We  pray  that  in  our  meeting  together,  in  all  our 
deliberations,  Thy  blessing  may  rest  upon  us;  that  in  the  battle 
of  life,  we  may  make  a  success;  that  victory  may  crown  all  our 
best  efforts  and  ultimately  gather  us  together  around  that  banquet 
in  Thine  own  home  and  Kingdom.  We  ask  it  for  Christ's 
sake.  Amen." 

It  may  be  noted  that  the  banquet  was  served  without  any- 
thing stronger  than  coffee. 

The  colored  waiters  then  marched  into  the  room  in  single 
file,  each  bearing  a  tin  plate  with  a  piece  of  fried  bacon  and 
hard  bread,  set  before  each  member,  that  being  the  first  item 
on  the  menu,  but  known  in  army  life  as  "hard  tack"  and 
"  sow  belly." 

THE  PRESIDENT:  You  will  please  keep  one  ear  open  to 
listen  to  the  reading  of  letters  from  our  comrades. 

MR.  AFFELD:  I  think  we  had  better  read  these  between 
the  courses,  if  we  can,  because  there  are  a  great  many  of  them, 
and  they  embrace  a  great  many  of  the  old  members,  and 
they  have  taken  pains  to  answer,  and  of  course  they  would  like 
to  know  that  their  efforts  are  appreciated. 

MR.  RUMSEY:  I  move  that  the  letters  be  laid  on  the  table 
until  we  get  through  eating,  I  think  the  boys  want  to  talk, — I 
know  I  do — and  after  we  get  through  eating,  we  can  read  the 
letters,  and  hear  what  the  boys  have  to  say  about  them. 

MR.  SHEPHERD:     I  second  that  motion. 

MR.  TURNER:  I  move  to  amend  MR.  RUMSEY'S  motion, 
that  we  delay  the  reading  of  the  letters  for,  say  15  minutes,  and 


10  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

I  think  during  that  time  we  can  do  all  the  talking  we  want,  say 
between  the  next  course  and  the  one  that  follows. 

MR.  AFFELD:     I  second  the  amendment. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  the  letters 
be  laid  on  the  table  for  the  present.  Motion  carried. 

The  Quartette  then  sang  "  The  March,"  by  Becker. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  MR.  AFFELD  is  ready  to  read  the  letters 
when  you  want  him,  so  you  have  only  to  signify  your  wishes. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  letter  from  H.  T_ 
CHAPPELL,  a  member  of  Squad  3,  which  was  read,  amid  great 
merriment,  as  follows: 

DENVER,  COLO.,  Feb.  10,  1880. 

DEAR  JIM:  Your  letter  came  yesterday,  and  I  am  delighted  to  think, 
that  tho'  I  am  not  to  be  in  at  roll  call,  some  one  will  answer  for  me,  and 
report  me  as  out  on  special  service,  but  ready  for  duty  at  a  minute's  notice. 
I  tried  hard  the  other  night  to  get  my  ideas  in  shape  to  send  the  boys,  even 
went  so  far  as  to  write  a  little,  but  was  not  satisfied  with  my  effort  by  any 
means.  If  they  are  bound  to  hear  from  me,  when  my  name  is  called,  you 
answer  for  me  Jim,  and  tell  them  please,  that  it  will  ever  be  a  source  of  joy 
and  pride — that  I  served  with  them  in  old  "  B  "  battery. 

And  making  due  allowance  for  all  their  little  mistakes  of  judgment 
and  taste,  that  while  I  remember  the  daring  deeds  of  other  squads,  I  do  not 
forget  that  I  was  a  member  of  squad  3.  And  when  I  consider  that  Ora 
McBride  was  one  of  that  "3",  no  large  word  of  pride  sounds  egotistical. 
For,  was  not  Ora  a  hero?  Did  he  not  ride  Nig  down  a  steep  slick  bank  in 
the  mud.  " Limber  to  the  front."  Peace  to  the  name  of  Ora  McBride!! 

But  you  don't  know,  my  dear  boy,  how  very  glad  I'd  be  to  join  you,  and 
look  into  the  friendly  familiar  faces  again.  Does  it  seem  possible?  Its 
almost  twenty  years  since  Donelson  was  taken ;  since  the  brave  and  noble 
Oscar  Becker  received  his  honorable  discharge.  If  he  has  any  friends,  kin 
folk,  they  ought  to  know  how  dearly  his  name  is  cherished  by  every  one 
who  knew  him.  If  there  is  any  mention  of  your  reunion  in  the  papers,, 
please  send  me  a  copy.  I'd  like  to  read  over  the  names,  if  nothing  more. 
Oh  I'd  like  to  be  there,  for  ever  so  many  reasons. 

Well!  give  any  fellow  that  asks  for  me  a  hearty  how,  and  be  sure  that 
if  ever  a  battery  man  is  needed,  they  can  count  on  Your  loving, 

CHAPP. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read,  between  the  next  two  courses,  the 
following  letter  from  J.  B.  DUTCH. 

CANON  CITY,  COLO.,  Feb.  9,  1880. 
C.  E.  AFFELD,  Esq.,  Sec'y,  Etc.. 

DEAR  SIR:  I  regret  exceedingly,  that  I  shall  be  deprived  of  the 
pleasure  of  participating  in  the  reunion  of  the  surviving  comrades  of 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  n 

Taylor's  Battery,  to  be  held  on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Ft.  Donelson,. 
but  absence  from  home,  and  the  impossibility  of  reaching  there  on  timer 
will  prevent. 

I  trust  that  these  reunions  may  be  had  annually,  and  that  it  will  be  my 
privilege  as  well  as  my  pleasure  to  be  able  to  attend  every  roll  call. 

Very  truly  yours,  J.  B.  DUTCH. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  letter  from  JOHN  W. 
FRAZER,  from  California,  amid  many  cheers. 

CALIFORNIA,  Mo.,  Feb.  4,  1880. 
Mr.  C.  E.  AFFELD, 

DEAR  SIR  :  Your  favor  of  the  28th,  received  to-day.  It  would  give  me 
great  pleasure  to  attend  the  reunion  of  the  survivors  of  Company  B,  but 
my  health  and  circumstances  make  it  impossible;  disease,  contracted  in  the 
Andersonville  prison,  has  been  gradually  working  on  and  undermining 
my  health,  until  I  am  almost  completely  broken  down:  I  am  not  able  to 
work  half  the  time,  and  but  little  then ;  it  requires  the  strictest  economy  to 
support  my  family ;  have  applied  for  a  pension,  but  do  not  know  whether  I 
will  receive  it  or  not. 

In  spirit  I  will  be  with  you  on  the  J4th,  what  a  pleasure  it  wou'd  be  to- 
me to  meet  all  the  noble,  brave  boys  of  Company  B  once  more. 

Give  my  kindest  regards  to  all,  and  ever  believe  me 

Your  sincere  friend,  JOHN  W.  FRAZER. 

MR.  AFFELD.     Now  we  have  one  that  comes  from  Morris > 
Illinois,  I  will  not  read  the  name. 

Mr.  Affeld  then  read,  amid  cheers,  the  following  letter: 

MORRIS,  ILL.,  Feb.  7,  1880. 
C.  E.  AFFELD, 

DEAR  SIR:  Your  favor  of  Jan.  23rd  received,  contents  noted.  Nothing 
would  please  me  more  than  to  meet  the  Old  Boys  on  the  i4th,andin  these 
"  piping  times  of  peace,"  talk  over  the  old  days  of  battle  and  march ;  but  it 
is  simply  impossible  for  me  to  do  so  in  person,  so  I  can  only  be  with  you 
in  spirit,  and  with  stating  that  I  am  engaged  in  farming  and  auctioneering,, 
and  that  my  P.  O.  address  is  Morris,  111.,  I  am  Yours  truly, 

JOHN  GRAHAM.  • 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  letter  from  LEWIS  F.  LAKE,. 
Rockford,  Illinois,  as  follows: 

ROCKFORD,  ILL.,  Feb.  3,  1880. 
C.  E.  AFFELD,  Esq., 

DEAR  COMRADE:  Owing  to  ill  health  and  unavoidable  circumstances, 
it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend  the  Reunion  and  Banquet  of  "Battery 
B,"  which  I  regret  very  much.  Be  assured  I  will  be  with  you  in  heart. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  13. 

MR.  SHEPHERD:  Of  Squad  3  McCoy  was.  He  sighted  the 
gun  that  blew  down  the  chimney  at  Belmont.  (Laughter.) 

MR.  RUMSEY:  He  was  my  Lieutenant.  I  will  take  him 
out  of  Squad  Three. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  letter  from  NILES 
T.  QUALES,  M.  D.: 

February  13,   1880. 

Regret  that  sickness  in  the  family  will  prevent  me  from  participating  in 
the  re-union  banquet  to-morrow  night.  With  kind  wishes,  I  remain, 

Very  respectfully,  NILES  T.  QUALES,  M.  D. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  letter  from  CHARLIE 
STEVENSON. 

ST.  JOSEPH,  Mo.,  February  2,  1880. 
CAPT.  RUMSEY,  AFFELD,  AND  ALL  OLD  COMRADES: 

I  regret  to  state  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend  your  reunion 
on  the  i4th,  but  will  think  of  all  of  my  old  comrades,  and  you  may  hear  the 
echo  of  my  gentle  voice  calling,  "Sravo,  Squad  One!" 

C.  U.  STEVENSON. 

MR.  RUMSEY:  I  would  like  to  say  that  I  have  seen 
CHARLIE.  He  has  a  nice  family  and  a  fine  wife;  she  is  a  splen- 
did, hard-working,  Presbyterian  woman,  and  Charlie  is  doing 
splendidly;  he  is  a  noble,  good  citizen. 

MR.  DUDLEY:  I  would  like  to  put  in  my  word  and  say 
hurrah  for  the  noble  Presbyterian  woman.  [Cheers.] 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY:  T  would  say  that  Bill  Bradbury  is  also 
at  St.  Joe.  He  told  me  that  he  had  got  a  splendid  wife.  He 
was  boarding  with  Charlie  Stevenson  and  was  about  keeping 
house.  He  is  a  brakeman  on  the  St.  Joe  and  Council  Bluffs  R. 
R.,  working  hard  and  earning  a  good  honest  living. 

MR.  PRESIDENT,  I  am  getting  a  little  dry,  and  I  would  like 
some  coffee,  and  I  would  ask  for  the  water  call  and  see  if  it 
won't  bring  us  something.  I  will  ask  the  bugler  to  give  us  the 
water  call. 

MR.  LANG:  MR.  CHAIRMAN,  I  don't  believe  that  the  boys 
have  drank  much  water  since  they  left  the  service.  I  haven't 
called  the  water  call  since  I  left. 

A  MEMBER:     Make  it  any  wet  call. 


14  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

MR.  LANG  then  gave  the  "  water  call "  and  coffee  was 
served. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  We  will  hear  some  more  letters  if 
you  like. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  postal  card  from 
WILLIAM  H.  SANBORN,  Junction  City,  Kansas. 

JUNCTION  CITY,  KANSAS,  Feb.  8th,  1880. 
FRIEND  AFFELD: 

DEAR  SIR:  I  would  be  very  much  pleased  to  be  with  you  on  the  i4th, 
but  will  not  be  able  to  get  off  from  my  work,  even  if  I  could,  my  cir- 
•cumstances  will  not  allow  me  to  leave  home  at  present.  Give  my  best 
wishes  to  all  the  boys.  And  I  regret  that  I  will  not  be  able  to  respond  to 
roll  call.  My  home  is  at  Wamego.  I  have  as  fine  a  pair  of  twin  girls  as 
•can  be  found  in  Kansas.  Will  you  please  send  me  the  address  of  Col. 
Taylor  and  Capt.  Rumsey?  If  P.  H.  White  should  come  west,  give  him 
my  best  wishes  and  tell  him  where  I  am;  have  not  seen  him  for  nine  years. 
Kind  regards  to  all.  Respectfully, 

WM.  H.  SANBORN. 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY:  That  is  the  first  pair  of  twins  we  have 
heard  of  from  Battery  B,  and  we  ought  to  give  them  three 
cheers.  [Cheers.] 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  letter  from  CHARLES 
F.  STARK. 

STARK  P.  O.,  CHICAGO  Co.,  MINN.,  Feb.  2,  1880. 

GENTS:  Yours  at  hand,  for  which  I  cannot  in  words  thank  you  for 
the  honor  to  be  called  on,  but  the  time  is  too  short,  and  means  too  small  at 
present,  to  have  the  honor  to  be  present  at  the  roll-call.  I  send  the  best 
respects  to  all  my  brave  comrades  in  comp.  B.  I  shall,  on  the  I4th  of 
Feb.,  use  the  same  coat  I  wore  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson ;  all  the 
•difference  on  it  is,  4  spots  in  its  shoulder  strap.  If  possible,  I  would  like 
to  hear  from  you,  how  many  of  my  old  comrades  responded  to  roll-call. 
Very  respectfully,  your  old  harness  maker, 

CHARLES  F.  STARK. 

ARTHUR  BURN  AM:  That  puts  me  in  mind  of  Stark  at 
the  Battle  of  Belmont;  you  will  remember  that  he  was  the  har- 
ness-maker and  he  was  in  the  rear,  and  somebody  shouted  "  Get 
this  Battery  in  position!"  and  he  jumped  up  and  shouted, 
*'  Mein  Gott!  how  can  I  shoot  mit  dis  blacksmit  shop." 
[Laughter.] 


REUNION  OF   TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  15 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  letter  from  CHAUNCEY  W.  WICKER 
amid  loud  cheers. 

WILLOUGHBY,  Feb.  1 2th,  1880. 

FRIEND  AFFELD:  I  have  just  received  your  letter  and  invitation  to 
reunion  on  the  14th,  and  should  be  happy  to  attend,  but  time  is  so  short 
that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  so  this  year.  If  nothing  prevents,  shall  make 
it  a  point  to  meet  the  surviving  members  at  next  roll  call.  And  in  the 
meantime  put  me  down  for  my  share  of  the  expenses,  and  let  me  know 
amount,  and  will  remit.  Please  don't  fail  to  do  this,  and  send  me  the  paper 
with  account  of  proceedings.  Give  my  regards  to  Comrades. 

Yours  truly,  C.  W.  WICKER. 

MR.  AFFEI.D  read  the  following  letter  from  G.  M.  WILLIS 
amid  cheers. 

LOTTS  CREEK,  IOWA,  Feb.  2nd,  1880. 

Messrs.  B.  F.  MC-CAKTY,  I.  P.  RUMSEY,  H.  W.  DUDLEY,].  M.  VER- 
NON  and  C.  E.  AFFELD,  Executive  Com.,  etc.:  Yours  of  January  aSth, 
inviting  me,  as  one  of  the  surviving  members  of  battery  "  B,"  ist  111. 
Artillery,  to  be  present  at  a  re-union  banquet  on  the  iSth  anniversary  of 
the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  Saturday,  Feb.  141)1,  1880,  is  received,  and  in 
replying  to  the  same,  I  have  to  say  that  in  both  heart  and  mind  I  will  cer- 
tainly be  present;  but  regret  to  say  that  I  shall  be  unable  to  make  a  verbal 
response  at  the  roll  call  of  my  name.  And  further  beg  to  say  that  I  ever 
have,  and  trust  that  I  ever  may,  feel  a  lively  interest  in  everything  that 
tends  to  keep  alive  the  memory  of  our  late  organization.  And  through 
your  committee  I  wish  to  express  to  each  one  of  you  my  strongest  feelings 
of  friendship,  and  to  assure  you  that  it  would  be  one  of  the  greatest 
pleasures  of  my  life  to  be  allowed  to  personally  meet  you  all  at  the  pro- 
posed anniversary  meeting,  and  perhaps  contribute  something  towards 
keeping  alive  the  sacred  and  honored  memory  of  those  of  our  late  comrades 
who  laid  down  their  lives  that  we  might  prosper. 

Very  respectfully  your  friend, 

G.  M.  WILLIS. 

MR.  AFFELD:  I  believe  thfe  next  one  is  the  last  one,  and 
I  will  leave  it  until  the  next  course. 

MR.  AFFELD  then  read  the  following  letter  from  LIEUT. 
P.  H.  WHITE. 

ALBANY,  Feb.  9,  1880 
CHARLES  E.  AFFELD, 

DEAR  SIR:  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  J  anuary  28th,  inviting  me 
to  attend  the  re-union  and  banquet  of  Battery  "  B,"  ist  Reg.  111.  Artillery, 
on  the  i4th  anniversary  of  the  memorable  battle  of  Fort  Donelson. 

It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  be  with  you  on  that  occasion,  to 
once  more  see  and  take  my  old  comrades  by  the  hand  and  talk  over  the 
pleasures  and  hardships  of  the  campaigns  and  marches  of  those  never-to- 


1 6  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

be  forgotten  days.  It  would  be  the  work  of  supererogation  in  me  to  attempt 
to  eulogize  the  gallant  old  Battery  "  B;"  but  my  memory  reverts  back  to  the 
snow-capped  heights  of  Donelson,  a  living  monument  of  patriotism,  and 
never  while  it  lasts  can  I  forget  the  daring  and  bravery  of  Battery  "  B." 
Amidst  hunger  and  cold  they  fought  the  rebels  in  their  strongholds,  and 
were  never  known  to  falter  and  knew  no  fear  when  the  Union's  life  and 
liberty  was  at  stake.  At  Donelson  the  Battery's  position  on  the  bold  hill 
exposed  to  the  enemy's  batteries  on  their  right,  left  and  center,  recalls  to 
mind  the  daring  deeds  of  our  brave  comrades,  among  whom  I  might  mention 
Becker,  Blaisdell,  Warner,  Everett,  William  and  Thos.  Taylor,  Putz,  and 
Henrotin.  I  hope  when  you  are  enjoying  yourselves  at  the  banquet  you  will 
toast  their  memory.  But  it  is  some  satisfaction  for  their  friends  to  know- 
that  they  died  that  their  country  might  live.  "On  fame's  eternal  camping 
ground  their  silent  tents  are  spread." 

You  must  not  think  that  because  I  was  latterly  connected  with  another 
battery  that  I  have  forgotten  old  Battery  ".Z?."  In  my  home  I  have  their 
picture  hung  up  so  that  I  can  keep  their  memory  ever  green. 

Although  not  with  you  in  person,  I  am  in  spirit  and  wish  you  all  a 
happy  time.  Yours,  etc.,  .  P.  H.  WHITE. 

158  Clinton  Ave. 

MR.  AFFELD:  Now  I  wish  to  say,  while  I  can,  that  if 
there  is  any  member  here  who  has  an  address  from  any  absent 
member,  I  wish  he  would  give  it  to  MR.  VERNON  or  myself, 
so  that  if  we  ever  have  another  reunion  we  can  obtain  the  ad- 
dresses of  the  men. 

The  Chicago  Quartette  then  sang  "Peter  Gray"  in 
character,  causing  great  merriment. 

THE  PRESIDENT:     Where  is  McCarty  ? 

MR.  RUMSEY:  You  ask  where  McCarty  is;  I  am  as  much 
surprised  as  you  are  that  he  is  not  here;  he  is  the  chairman  of  a 
committee,  and  why  he  is  not  here  I  do  not  know. 

THE  PRESIDENT;  He  might  be  useful  in  taking  care  of 
the  mules. 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY;  I  am  afraid  he  is  frightened  off  be- 
cause he  thought  there  might  be  some  mules  here. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Well,  he  never  let  the  mules  run  round 
the  camp  loose. 

The  Quartette  then  sang  "Tramp,  Tramp,  Tramp,  the 
Boys  are  Marching." 

MR.  AFFELD:  I  would  like  to  ask  whether  anybody 
knows  for  a  certainty  whether  Levi  W.  Hart  was  killed  at 
Ashtabula  or  not. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  17 

MR.  DUDLEY  :     Yes,  he  was. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  While  we  are  eating  our  dessert,  I  will 
give  you  our  first  regular  toast.  "  Our  First  Battle,  Frederick- 
town,  G.  R.  Van  Horn." 

Response  hy  the  REV.  G.  R.  VAN  HORN. 

MR.  CHAIRMAN,  the  notes  I  hold  in  my  hand  are  largely 
taken  from  my  diary  that  I  kept  during  the  days  of  our  war, 
hence  I  read  them  as  if  they  occurred,  as  taken  from  diary. 

This  battle  was  fought  Oct.  21,  1861.  It  is  short,  sharp, 
decisive.  Only  two  guns  of  our  Battery  are  in  the  engagement, 
yet  the  entire  battery  share  in  the  glory.  The  "  City  of  Louis- 
iana "  transports  us  in  company  with  the  gallant  2oth  Regiment 
to  Cape  Girardeau,  where  we  encamp  over  night.  In  the 
morning  we  take  up  our  line  of  march  through  Jackson  to  the 
miserable  little  village  of  Dallas,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  we 
camp.  The  following  morning  we  move  on,  after  being  told 
we  may  expect  a  brush  with  Jeff.  Thompson  during  the  day. 
The  day  passes,  but  no  brush.  We  camp  near  Fredericktown, 
and  start  out  early  in  the  morning  to  find  the  foe,  but  he  has 
fled.  His  camp  fires  are  yet  burning.  Col.  Plumber,  with 
troops  from  Scranton,  now  form  a  juncture  with  our  forces, 
and  already  has  possession  of  the  town.  A  brief  conference  is 
held  between  commanders,  and  we  push  on,  eager  for  the  fray. 
A  mile  or  so  beyond  the  town  we  ascertain  the  enemy  to  b 
awaiting  our  approach.  He  is  in  ambush.  His  plan  is  good, 
but  won't  work.  The  blind  are  not  leading  the  blind.  The 
rebel  Col.  Lowe,  with  his  forces  are  skirting  the  valley,  en- 
trenched behind  that  long  row  of  worm  fence.  Their  artillery 
is  800  yards  in  advance,  over  on  that  hill,  shielded  by  the  heavy 
timber.  Their  cavalry  are  off  yonder  on  the  right,  in  the  tim- 
ber. They  anticipate  that  we  will  rush  thoughtlessly  into  this 
valley,  when  we  will  be  cut  to  pieces  by  a  front  and  cross  fire. 
Only  five  minutes  and  a  line  of  battle  is  formed,  to  the  right 
and  left,  with  our  battery  in  the  centre.  Squad  three  throws 
three  shot  into  that  timber  on  the  opposite  hill  to  wake  them 
up.  A  puff  of  smoke,  and  then  a  ball  tears  up  the  earth  at  our 
feet.  They  mean  business.  So  do  we.  Shot  and  shell  fly 
back  and  forth  across  that  valley  with  the  wings  of  death.  It 
is  an  artillery  duel.  Lieut.  White  mounts  a  stump,  and  as  every 


1 8  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

shot  strikes  home,  shouts,  "  Good,  give  it  to  them  boys!"  Now 
the  infantry  open  fire,  and  a  shower  of  lead  fills  the  air.  The 
rebels  break  and  run,  the  hillside  is  alive  with  the  retreating 
Johnnies.  We  pour  into  their  ranks,  as  a  parting  salute,  a  few 
shrapnel,  to  urge  them  on.  Now  Major  Gavitt,  at  the  head  of 
his  cavalry,  charges  down  the  hill  on  our  right  and  disappears 
in  the  timber  beyond,  after  the  flying  rebels.  A  few  moments 
and  he  comes  back  across  the  horse  he  so  bravely  rode, — dead ! 
The  battle  is  over,  the  stars  and  stripes  are  victorious.  The  foe 
is  pursued  toward  Greenville,  but  he  is  too  fleet  of  foot.  His 
dead  and  wounded  are  left  on  the  field;  among  the  number 
killed  is  the  brave  but  mistaken  Col.  Lowe.  Our  battery  has 
fired  ninety  rounds  of  amunition,  and,  thanks  be  to  God,  we 
have  not  a  man  killed  or  wounded.  The  only  damage  sustained 
is  the  marking  of  a  gun-carriage  wheel  belonging  to  squad 
three, in  the  most  approved  manner.  We  return  to  the  Cape,  and 
go  into  camp.  Letters  are  written  home;  we  talk  the  battle 
over;  receive  our  pay;  and  are  ordered  to  return  to  Bird's  Point. 
We  are  received  there  by  the  boys  amid  shouts  and  cheers,  and 
also  receive  the  compliments  of  our  most  excellent  Commander, 
Capt.  Taylor.  We  have  received  our  baptism  of  fire. 

[Loud  cheers.] 

CAPT.  RUMSEY:  Since  coming  here  this  evening,  I  have 
heard  that  there  is  a  lady,  who,  learning  of  this  banquet  to  be 
held  to-night  has  written  a  poem,  and  I  understand  that  she  is 
here.  I  would  move  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  invite 
her  to  read  the  poem. 

Motion  carried  unanimously. 

CAPT.  RUMSEY:  I  want  to  state  further  that  she  knew 
nothing  of  it  until  this  morning;  she  is  a  niece  of  one  of  our 
members. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  I  will  appoint  Messrs.  Barrett,  Powell, 
and  Whitfield.  Now  I  will  read  the  second  toast.  "  Our  First 
Retreat,  James  F.  Whittle." 

Response  by  MR.  WHITTLE. 

I  had  intended  this  evening  to  have  referred  to  some  papers 
and  to  have  given  a  complete  history,  and  perhaps  taking  in  the 
Battle  of  Belmont,  but  was  called  away  from  home  on  Tuesday 
morning  with  the  intention  of  returning  Friday  and  securing 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  19 

my  papers  and  returning  here  to-day,  but  I  have  been  disap- 
pointed in  doing  so,  therefore,  in  what  I  have  to  say  I  shall 
have  to  be  guided  by  my  memory,  which  you  know  sometimes 
is  a  little  treacherous  in  regard  to  dates,  and  if  I  should  make 
any  mistakes  in  that  respect,  I  hope  you  will  pardon  me. 

Before  touching  on  Belmont  I  make  these  remarks.  I  took 
up  my  paper  and  read  an  article  saying  that  the  Government 
had  called  for  300,000  artillery,  infantry  and  cavalry,  and  a  lady 
said  it  was  all  right  as  far  as  the  cavalry  and  artillery  were  con- 
cerned, but  if  they  wanted  more  infantry  they  must  send  some 
of  their  soldiers  home.  In  talking  it  over  with  my  wife  we 
concluded  we  would  serve  our  country  in  that  way,  and  we  have 
now  a  little  regiment  of  six  in  the  Northern  part  of  Wisconsin. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  if  you  will  pardon  me  in  following 
our  camp  life,  which  of  course  leads  to  our  first  retreat  at  the 
Battle  of  Belrr.  ont.  It  was  necessary  that  we  should  pass 
through  all  we  did  there  under  the  leadership  of  our  officers 
who  drilled  us,  which  made  us  so  successful  in  the  battles  which 
we  fought,  and  remarkable  incidents  which  passed  in  our  camp 
life  at  Bird  Point,  and  which  will  never  be  erased  from  my 
memory.  As  we  went  from  home — we  had  but  little  experi- 
ence in  horsemanship,  and  I  remember  one  man  who  wanted  to 
become  competent  in  horsemanship,  and  he  rode  my  gray  horse 
down  to  water  one  day.  I  told  him  one  day — I  shall  mention 
no  names — I  told  him  one  day,  if  he  wanted  to  be  a  good  horse- 
man he  must  learn  to  ride  bare-back  with  nothing  but  a  halter; 
and  he  rode  that  way  one  day.  It  was  a  hard  horse  to  ride  and 
I  noticed  that  he  let  go  of  the  halter,  and  he  kept  going  back 
and  back  and  finally  fell  off  over  the  rear.  All  these  little  in- 
cidents are  interesting  to  me  to  remember,  and  before  touching 
our  departure  from  Belmont,  I  want  to  speak  of  this;  and  I  re- 
peat it  with  reverence.  I  remember  it  was  in  Captain  Hart's 
headquarters,  and  you  remember  when  we  built  our  log  cabins. 
The  centre  was  for  Captain  Taylor,  and  on  the  right  and  left 
for  Captains  Hart  and  Barrett.  Captain  Hart  had  a  little  stove 
there,  and  quite  a  number  of  us  thought  it  would  be  pleasant  to 
follow  our  practice  at  home  and  meet  once  a  week  for  prayer; 
and  we  never  had  occasion  to  build  a  fire  in  the  stove — the 
weather  being  warm — but  one  evening  being  chilly,  we  built  a 


2o  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

little  fire  in  the  stove  and  took  the  chill  from  the  room,  and  just 
as  we  opened  the  exercises,  one  of  our  boys  came  in,  and  not 
seeing  any  seat,  and  not  seeing  any  fire  in  the  stove,  sat  down 
on  the  stove.  He  told  me  it  was  the  hottest  prayer  meeting  he 
ever  attended.  [Loud  laughter.] 

But,  gentlemen,  following  down  to  Belmont,  you  all  know 
how  we  received  the  news  to  go  to  the  front.  We  had  been 
six  months  at  Bird's  Point,  but  it  was  not  lost;  it  was  there  we 
gained  the  knowledge  to  make  the  sure  shot  that  knocked  the 
chimney  off  that  house  that  was  spoken  of. 

In  speaking  of  my  own  experience,  as  I  have  no  notes,  I 
know  that  old  gray  horse  was  what  carried  me  into  that  fight, 
and  I  am  not  ashamed  to  own  it,  I  think  if  I  had  been  on  foot 
my  feet  would  have  been  apt  to  carry  me  out  of  it.  But  as  we 
came  to  the  front  and  plowed  up  the  dirt  we  saw  that  one 
wounded  and  this  one  wounded,  and  all  that  feeling  passed 
away,  and  what  was  left  was  a  spirit  of  revenge  as  we  pushed 
forward  to  the  enemy  and  swept  down  into  the  enemy's  camp, 
and  each  one  of  us  of  course  had  a  desire  to  secure  some  trophy 
that  we  might  send  home  to  our  wives,  mothers,  or  fathers,  and 
perhaps  too  many  of  us  went  into  that  kind  of  business,  but  it 
was  not  long  before  we  were  relieved,  and  we  were  told  that 
the  rebels  had  crossed  over  from  Columbus  and  formed  a  line 
in  our  rear  to  cut  off  our  line  of  retreat  to  our  boats.  And  I 
speak  of  this  incident  because  I  think  Providence  guards  each 
one  of  us.  I  remember  that  about  the  time  we  were  ordered  to 
make  a  retreat,  I  received  orders  from  Captain  Barrett  to  go 
with  a  message  to  Capt.  Taylor  because  Orderly  Everett  was 
not  on  hand,  and  as  I  was  about  to  go  he  came  up,  and  you 
know  he  was  fatally  wounded,  and  you  know  that  he  possessed 
one  of  the  finest  minds  in  our  Battery ;  he  was  a  noble  man,  I 
loved  him  as  a  brother,  he  was  a  friend  of  my  brother  and  he 
watched  over  him  when  he  died;  we  all  loved  him.  Why  I 
speak  of  this  is  that  each  one  of  us  as  a  battery  man  feel  here 
to-day  that  there  was  an  overruling  providence  in  our  destiny 
that  we  are  spared  to  meet  to-day  to  talk  over  these  things. 

Now,  referring  to  the  time  when  we  were  ordered  to  go 
back  to  the  rear,  I  remember  as  we  went  back  with  our  guns, 
as  we  went  through  the  woods,  we  could  see  the  rebels  that  cut 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  21 

off  our  retreat.  It  consisted  of  the  four  guns  of  the  famous 
New  Orleans  battery  called  the  Washington  Battery.  He  called 
for  volunteers  from  our  Battery  to  draw  the  guns  back  to  our 
boats,  and  quite  a  number  volunteered  from  his  regiment,  and 
we  attached  our  horses,  what  we  could  spare  from  two  of  the 
guns,  and  I  am  quite  sure  we  carried  them  back,  for  the  Mer- 
cantile Battery  had  them  in  their  battery  afterwards. 

Gen.  Logan's  personal  presence  cheered  us  on  there,  and 
with  double  shotted  canister  I  think  we  cut  a  row  through  them, 
and  we  went  through  them  pretty  quick.  Of  course  I  cannot 
fill  these  remarks  up  as  if  I  had  the  papers  before  me,  but  we 
went  through  them ;  and  I  remember  as  we  cut  past  the  enemy's 
line,  as  they  filed  to  the  right  and  left,  and  we  came  through 
with  our  guns  and  tried  to  get  through  two  trees  that  grew  too 
near  together  for  a  gun  to  pass,  and  we  stuck  in  there;  and  then 
we  had  to  push  back  and  go  through  again.  I  remember  see- 
ing a  mule  a  little  way  off,  and  as  I  got  to  him  I  saw  the  Con- 
federate mark  on  him.  I  had  lost  my  revolver  that  day  in 
making  our  retreat,  arid  I  thought  if  1  could  secure  that  mule  it 
would  pay  for  my  i-evolver.  I  caught  him,  and  the  mule  was 
all  of  a  tremble;  and  as  we  were  making  our  retreat  the  mule 
went  one  side  of  a  large  tree  and  I  went  the  other,  and  I  forgot 
to  let  go  of  the  halter,  and  I  finally  got  the  mule  safe  to  our 
boats.  A  great  deal  of  work  was  clone,  you  will  remember,  in 
a  short  time;  that  battery  was  loaded  about  as  quick  as  anything 
I  ever  saw.  After  we  put  our  battery  aboard  of  the  boat  we 
then  dropped  to  the  rear  of  the  gun  boat,  and  then  was  the  time 
when  this  grand  old  shot  of  Comrade  McCoy  was  put  in;  he 
stood  by  the  boat  and  when  we  passed  by  the  shore  there  was 
a  house  with  a  tall  chimney,  and  he  sighted  his  gun  on  it,  and 
the  next  thing  we  knew  the  chimney  went  down. 

But,  gentlemen,  we  are  here  to-day  to  celebrate  the  event  of 
the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  to  recall  these  things  to  mind,  and 
we  are  here  to-night  to  think  and  speak  and  live  over  our  lives 
again  for  a  short  season,  and  I  trust  that  in  the  future,  as  year 
by  year  passes,  that  we  shall  be  spared,  and  that  we  shall  come 
together  to  celebrate  these  things,  and  bring  to  mind  these 
things.  Whatever  may  be  the  future  of  our  government,  or 
the  future  of  us  individually,  that  we  may  have  this  to  know, 


22  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

that  when  we  enlisted  to  put  down  this  rebellion  we  had  just 
one  thought,  that  we  loved  our  country,  that  we  loved  our  flag, 
and  that  we  went  there  to  defend  and  protect  it,  and  that  we 
came  out  victorious,  and  if  in  the  future  there  is  anything  to  be 
offered,  any  reward  to  be  offered  to  any  class,  it  shall  be  those 
soldiers  who  were  true  to  the  old  flag,  and  they  should  be  re- 
warded, and  only  those.  [Loud  cheers.] 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY:  MR.  CHAIRMAN,  here  is  a  telegram 
just  handed  me,  it  says: 

"CAPTAIN  J.  P.  RUMSEY,  Battery  B  Re-union,  Grand  Pacific  Hotel: 
Regret  I  cannot  be  with  you,  remember  me  to  all  the  boys. 

GEORGE  Q.  WHITE." 

He  lost  his  arm  at  Belmont,  he  is  a  Belmont  boy. 

MR.  W.  T.  SHEPHERD  here  appeared  in  the  room  in  the  old 
battery  uniform,  the  same  one  he  wore  during  the  war,  which 
elicited  much  merriment,  and  three  cheers  were  given  for  the 
old  uniform. 

The  quartette  then  sang  "  I  cannot  always  trace  the  way." 

THE  PRESIDENT:     Gentlemen,  let  us  rise. 

VICE-PRESIDENT  BARRETT:  I  have  the  pleasure  of  in- 
troducing Miss  Hosford.  She  has  composed  a  poem  for  the 
occasion  which  she  kindly  offers  to  read. 

Miss  HOSFORD  then  recited  the  following  beautiful  poem; 

BATTERY  B. 

"  Ho,  my  old  comrade,  come  draw  up  your  chair, 
And  have  somethin'  warmin'.     Not  any,  old  boy  ? 
I  guess  you've  changed  off  so-ne,  you  didn't  refuse  it 
When  we  were  comrades  together,  in  the  old  Illinois. 

Say,  cap,  have  you  marked  in  your  calendar  to-day, 
That  it's  just  fhe  anniversary  of  Donelson's  war? 
Sweet  changin'  of  valent'nes  o'er  the  ramparts  that  day. 
Did  we  give  the  gray  rebs,  till  they  wanted  no  more. 

Well,  comrades,  those  years  of  hard  fightin' 

We'll  never  forget,  and  the  campin'  —no  runnin' — why  to  me 

It  seems  but  a  day  since  we  camped  at  old  Ca'ro, 

Just  after  we  'listed  in  Battery  B. 

And  our  first  skirmish  with  Jeff  the  guerilla, 
You've  not  forgotten  that:  how  brave  we  were  then! 
Why,  war  was  just  fun  while  Jeff  kep'  a  runnin', 
But  for  what  was  a  comin'  it  made  us  brave  men. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  23 

Then  the  taste  of  the  fight  at  Fredericktown  came, 
And  two  of  our  guns  made  some  of  'em  hum. 
Yet  bravely  and  gladly  we  marched  back  to  camp. 
As  every  one  of  us  answered  to  the  roll  of  the  drum. 

Then  spoilen'  for  a  fight  towards  Belmont  we  pushed, 

'Twas  the  first  little  brush  for  our  brave  U.  S.  G. 

He  spoiled  for  the  rebs  their  neat  little  game; 

For  this  and  what  followed  they  don't  forgive  him  you  see. 

Then  to  be  shaken  and  taken  old  Donelson  came, 
And  we  meant  it — we'd  fight  till  'twas  done. 
For  was'nt  there  with  us  the  pride  of  his  men, 
Brave  Wallace?     Then  hoAv  could  we  run? 

No  woman's  heart  beat  in  his  soldierly  breast, 
lie  was  loyal  to  his  country — and  at  Shiloh  he  fell ; 
But  he  mourned  for  his  men  who  fell  at  his  side, 
At  Donelson's  carnage — you  remember  it  well. 

With  their  brave  leader  they  went  to  the  field, 
A  thousand  hearts  beating  with  hopes,  but  no  fears ; 
Three  hundred  alone  came  out  from  the  fight, 
At  their  head  came  Wallace  in  tears. 

Did  we  forget  that  as  we  stood  by  our  guns, 
And  waited  for  morning  in  the  sleet  and  the  rain, 
When  the  ramrods  froze  fast  to  the  sides  of  our  guns, 
With  the  cold  so  intense?     No,  they  fell  not  in  vain. 

Soon  Pillow  and  Floyd  just  dusted  their  heels, 
When  they  found  they'd  no  chance  to  get  clear; 
Leaving  Buckner  and  Johnston  to  hold  the  white  flag, 
While  we  marched  to  the  fort  we'd  purchased  so  dear. 

And  Grant  he  was  drunk!       Did  you  hear  the  report? 
Well,  its  so  good  I  must  tell  it  again ; 

How  Old  Abe,  when  he  heard  it,  just  sent  back  the  word, 
"  On  this  kind  of  whiskey  keep  both  generals  and  men." 

Shiloh  means  peace,  I  learnt  when  I  was  young, 
But  there  was'nt  much  peace  for  the  rebels  just  then; 
Nor  for  us  was  much  rest,  as  towards  Corinth  we  pressed, 
Building  our  ramparts  again  and  again. 

Chickasaw  Bayou — 'twas  up  the  Yazoo, 

And  Sherman  had  command  of  our  line. 

Then  Arkansaw  Post — you  remember  of  course, 

'Twas  there  that  our  battery  got  its  compliment  fine. 


24  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

The  siege  of  Vicksburg  we  can  never  forget, 
As  we  camped  by  the  swamps  round  the  town; 
'Twas  here  the  brave  lads  to  the  fever  gave  in, 
And  their  lives  with  their  useless  old  guns  laid  down. 

And  then  do  you  remember  that  store  on  our  way, 
We  took  with  its  drugs  and  other  such  things? 
Such  a  prize  as  we'd  found  in  those  bottles  of  wine, 
Why,  they  went  off  like  magic,  as  if  they'd  had  wings. 

'Antimonial  Bitters'  it  said  on  the  card, 

But  then  it  was  wine  by  the  smell ; 

And  it  did'nt  go  far  from  our  little  crowd, 

As  we  smacked  it  right  off — Oh!  Ah,  yes,  pretty  well. 

But  get  off  the  gun,  we'll  just  walk  a  while, 
'Twas  not  very  straight,  by  the  way ; 
Then  how  the  boys  laughed  as  we  gave  up  the  wine, 
In  such  an  illogical  -way! 

So  Vicksburg  we  took  with  Logan  our  chief, 

And  with  our  old  general  to  vict'ry  were  led. 

There  was  cheer  upon  cheer  as  we  took  down  the  bars, 

And  planted  the  stripes  in  their  stead. 

Mission  Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  soon  followed  in  turn ; 
Then  our  camp  for  the  winter  in  old  Larkinsville. 
All  mention  of  home  then,  how  our  hearts  they  did  burn, 
And  with  thoughts  of  our  dear  ones,  our  eyes,  how  they'd  fill. 

Atlanta?     Yes  comrades,  that  was  the  last, 

'Twas  a  bitter  fight,  though,  to  the  end ; 

But  the  rebs  they  know  now  of  what  stuff  we  are  made, 

If  with  the  Yanks  they've  a  wish  to  contend. 

Yes,  comrades,  it's  over,  and  our  Union  was  saved, 
Which  our  forefathers  fought  to  obtain, 
And  the  South  like  the  North  will  yet  love  it,  I  know. — 
Then  will  no  hero's  blood  have  been  shed  for  it  in  vain. 

The  battle  of  life,  comrades,  we're  fightin'  it  yet; 

For  you  an'  me,  cap,  maybe  it's  most  done, 

But  we'll  answer  together,  when  we're  both  'mustered  out': 

From  our  post  of  duty  we  ne'er  learnt  to  run." 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY:  MR.  CHAIRMAN,  I  move  you  that  a 
vote  of  thanks  be  given  to  the  lady  for  her  very  beautiful  poem. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Gentlemen,  you  hear  the  motion,  and  I 
know  there  will  be  no  noes  to  it,  you  will  all  say  aye. 

(Carried  with  three  cheers.) 


Nathan  J.   Voung.  Sydney  Peckham, 

Sergt.  Win.  J.  McCoy, 
H.  '!".  Chappel,  Wm.  D.  Cfego. 


H.  dishing,       H.  S.  Hebard,       Isaac  Watts 

Francis  I'ond,  Geo.  E.  Church, 

Corpl.  J.  A.  Moore. 


• 


Saml.  T.    \\ent\vorth,  Abel  Ousey, 

Chas.  W.  Stickney, 
Horace  Reed,  Robt.  J.  Hunt. 


('has.  Krause,  \\'ni.  ('.   Scupham, 

Thos.   E.  Taylor, 
('.  W.  Duinond,  C'.  J.  Sauter. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  25 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY:  I  will  ask  the  quartette  to  give  the 
lady  a  song. 

The  quartette  then  sang  "Farewell,  my  own  true  love." 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY  then  presented  Miss  Hosford  with  a 
handsome  bouquet  of  flowers  from  the  banquet  table. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  third  toast,  gentlemen,  is  "Our 
First  Wounded,"  D.  F.  Chase. 

Response  by  MR.  CHASE. 

I  want  to  say  that  I  deliver  my  sermon  after  the  sermon  was 
•written,  and  not  being  much  of  a  preacher,  the  sermon  does  not 
follow  the  text  very  close,  and  all  the  reminiscences  which  I  am 
familiar  with  pertain  more  particularly  to  Squad  3,  and  Squad 
3  is  very  poorly  represented  here  to-night,  and  therefore  very 
many  of  them  will  be  perhaps  almost  unknown. 

While  the  veterans  are  re-lighting  the  camp  fires  of  the 
whole  war  and  living  over  again  the  varied  scenes  and  experi- 
ences of  that  eventful  period,  I  trust  they  will  excuse  a  brief 
reference  to  a  few  of  the  earlier,  less  exciting  and  least  remem- 
bered incidents  of  the  old  by-gone  days.  I  refer  to  the  birth 
and  infancy  of  our  soldiery — the  days  when  we  met  as  strangers 
in  the  old  armory  on  Adams  Street — fresh  and  ignorant  in  the 
manual  of  arms,  the  duties  of  a  soldier,  and  of  the  fate  and  fame 
in  store  for  our  future;  of  our  "grand  send-off"  to  the  war,  the 
good  times  and  quarters  we  had  in  the  old  freight  depot  in 
Cairo — too  good  to  last — and  finally  Bird's  Point,  which  wasn't 
to  be  sneezed  at  compared  with  some  we  indulged  in  afterwards. 
What  greenhorns  we  were  at  the  start,  and  with  all  due  respect 
for  straps,  our  officers  (with  some  exceptions)  had  but  mighty 
little  to  brag  of  in  the  way  of  professional  education.  Some  of 
our  first  drilling  would  hardly  have  passed  muster  as  the  pro- 
duction of  the  "diamond  drill" — but  the  machine  was  of  good 
material  and  when  properly  put  in  shape  managed  to  make  a 
pretty  large  hole  in  the  blasted  Southern  Confederacy. 

Who  will  forget  the  first  "  long  roll,"  when  some  over- 
cautious sentry  mistook  a  calf  for  a  confederate,  and  shot  us  all 
into  direful  confusion — I  believe  if  the  Johnnies  had  then  come 
ior  us  I  should  have  gone  into  action  with  one  boot  and  bare- 
headed, saying  nothing  about  other  missing  garments  and  things 
— and  even  then  have  been  quite  as  well  equipped  as  my  com- 


26  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

rades — but  that  never  happened  again.  Those  of  us  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  expeditions  to  Paducah  and  Fredericktown  will 
never  smile  at  the  importance  they  then  gave  to  such  small  af- 
fairs— and  when  we  returned  from  the  latter  place  with  our 
"First  Wounded"  and  the  glory  of  having  been  "under  fire" 
— recounting  and  recounting  the  wonderful  things  we  had  seen 
and  done.  How  soon  the  boys  of  the  right  and  left  sections 
learned  to  explain  it  all  and  show  off  with  proper  spirit  our 
wounded  wheel  to  the  10,000  and  i  who  came  to  hear  of  our 
exploits  and  no  doubt  admire  the  heroes  of  so  wonderful  an  en- 
gagement. If  some  of  the  ardent  spirits  of  squads  three  and 
four  were  here  (and  perhaps  they  are)  I  would  enquire  if  they 
could  now  tell  the  difference  between  "  home-made  apple  jack" 
and  moonshine  whiskey,  such  as  we  found  up  near  Frederick- 
town.  But  they  paid  the  miserable  Pukes  next  day  for  the 
bogus  temptation  left  in  their  way. 

I  am  afraid  that  the  Paducah  pig  that  got  impaled  on  an  ar- 
tillery tooth-pick,  while  the  owner  was  walked  and  talked  o*ff 
in  quite  another  direction,  will  never  be  paid  for,  but  it  made  us 
a  very  good  dinner  for  all  that.  And  I  wonder  if  Lieut.  White 
has  forgotten  how  flat  he  laid  on  his  back  in  the  road  up  by  the 
distillery  after  leap-frogging  over  my  horse's  head,  while  most 
accommodatingly  teaching  the  subscriber  how  to  ride  a  balky 
saddle  horse.  Anyhow  the  horse  was  at  once  condemned,  sent 
back  to  camp  and  I  got  black  Hamlet  in  his  stead,  that  McCoy 
rode  all  through  the  war. 

Then  came  our  expedition  to  Belmont,  prefaced  by  spending 
a  dark  night  under  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  where  LieuU 
Rumsey,  had  he  not  been  a  "duck  of  a  boy"  might  have  missed 
participating  in  the  battle  of  victory  and  retreat — for  if  Provi- 
dence had  permitted  nine  out  of  ten  of  the  best  of  us  to  fall  into 
the  Mississippi  river  in  full  uniform,  we  could  never  have  swam 
against  the  current,  around  the  bow  of  the  boat,  and  landed  all 
standing,  with  not  a  particle  of  pluck  washed  out  of  us. 

Belmont  gave  us  our  real  "first  wounded" — though  but 
three  of  us  experienced  the  first  personal  cruelty  of  war — it  was- 
more  than  enough.  Many  others  passed  through  the  trying 
ordeal  afterward  and  none  of  them  will  ever  care  to  travel  the 
blood-stained  road  again.  The  experiences  of  the  living  wound- 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  27 

ed  are  their  own,  and  they  only  can  tell  them.  But  who  shall 
speak  for  the  wounded  dead  ?  Those  who  died  with  their  glory 
fresh  upon  them.  We  have  .gathered  them  carefully  and 
sacredly  into  a  tomb  dedicated  as  the  peaceful  resting-place  of 
patriot  heroes  only,  and  let  none  be  added  but  those  well  worthy 
of  them,  and  the  cause  for  which  they  died. 

We  all  remember  the  pious  promise  of  the  Divine  expound- 
ers, that  death  in  so  glorious  and  holy  a  cause  should  insure 
peace  and  happiness  hereafter.  Let  us  believe  in  their  in- 
spiration and  that  our  heroic  dead  are  now  receiving  their  re- 
ward. And  assuming  that  our  patriotism  was  as  honest  and 
pure  as  theirs,  let  us  hope  that  the  value  of  that  promise  will 
lose  none  of  its  virtue  through  the  accident  of  our  having  sur- 
vived the  perils  of  war,  and  that  finally  we  too  may  thus  be  en- 
abled to  penetrate  the  pearly  gates.  [Loud  Cheers.] 

CAPT.  RUMSEY:  I  would  like  to  say,  Mr.  Chairman,  in 
behalf  of  the  Reverend  gentleman  who  is  to  preach  next  Sun- 
day, which  is  very  near  at  hand,  that  he  should  be  permitted  to 
respond  to  "  Our  Honored  Dead  "  now,  as  he  is  very  low  down 
on  the  list  of  toasts. 

MR.  SHEPHERD:  Excuse  me,  boys,  but  here  is  the  first 
shell  that  was  fired  from  our  Battery,  this  was  fired  from  Squad 
2  gun,  at  Fredericktown,  across  that  open  space,  and  went  into 
a  log  in  that  open  space,  and  in  my  researches  I  found  it.  This 
is  the  identical  first  ball  that  our  Battery  fired.  [Exhibiting 
cannon  ball.]  [Cheers.] 

THE  PRESIDENT:  In  connection  with  that,  I  will  say  that 
I  had  in  my  possession,  and  I  think  I  have  it  now,  the  twelve- 
pound  shot  that  cut  your  wheel.  I  think  it  is  on  my  premises 
to-day. 

Gentlemen,  you  have  heard  the  motion  of  Captain  Rumsey, 
unless  objected  to  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Horn  will  now  respond  to  the 
toast  "Our  Noble  Dead." 

Response  by  REV.  G.  R.  VAN  HORN. 

I  thank  you,  comrades,  for  this  favor.  I  have  a  long  dis- 
tance to  go  to  my  home,  and  while  many  of  you  will  rest  to- 
morrow, I  will  have  to  do  hard  work. 


28  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 


OUR  DEAD  COMRADES. 

I  hold  in  my  hand  the  death  roll  of  56  of  our  comrades. 
Read  the  roll,  and  they  can  be  recapitulated  in  the  following 
order : 

Died  from  wounds  received  at  Belmont,  one;  killed  in 
battle  at  Fort  Donelson,  one;  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  two; 
at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  three;  before  Atlanta,  six;  in 
Virginia,  one.  Total  killed  in  battle  during  the  war,  fourteen. 
Killed  in  battle  after  the  close  of  the  war  for  the  Union,  one. 
Died  from  disease  during  service,  thirteen.  Died  since  the 
close  of  the  war,  twenty-six.  Total  now  known  to  be  on  the 
death  ro\\,Jifty-six. 

Battery  B  was  in  active  service  three  years  and  three 
months  and  participated  in  sixteen  battles,  and  some  of  them 
the  most  decisive  and  bloody  of  the  entire  record,  and  yet  only 
fourteen  of  our  comrades  were  slain  in  battle,  and  but  thirteen 
died  from  disease  during  all  those  years  of  exposure  and  hard- 
ship. Here  is  a  significant  fact  and  worthy  our  most  reverential 
thought.  A  kind  Providence  certainly  watched  over  this  Bat- 
tery from  that  Sabbath  day,  May  28,  1861,  when  in  a  body  we 
attended  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  when  the  pastor 
Dr.  Humphrey,  called  our  attention  to  Psalm  XCI  and  began 
to  read: 

1.  He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High  shall  abide 
under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 

2.  I  will  say  of  the  LORD,  He  is  my  refuge  and  my  fortress:  my  God; 
in  him  will  I  trust. 

3.  Surely  he  shall  deliver  thee  frcm  the  snare  of  the  fowler,  and  from 
the  noisome  pestilence. 

4.  He  shall  cover  thee  with  his  feathers,  and  under  his  wings  shalt  thou 
trust:  his  truth  shall  be  thy  shield  and  buckler. 

5.  Thou  shalt  n  it  be  afraid  for  terror  by  night;  nor  for  the  arrow  that 
flieth  by  day ; 

6.  Nor  tor  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  darkness;  nor  tor  the  destruction 
that  wasteth  at  noonday. 

7.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side, and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand; 
but  it  shall  not  come  nigh  thee. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  29 

8.  Only  with  thine  eyes  shalt  them  behold  and  see  the  reward  of  the 
wicked. 

9.  Because  thou  hast  made  the  LORD,  which  is  my  refuge,  even  the  Most 
High,  thy  habitation ; 

10.  There  shall  no  evil  befall  thee,  neither  shall  any  plague  come  nigh 
thy  dwelling. 

11.  For  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge  over  thee,  to  keep  thee  in  all  thy 
ways. 

12.  They  shall  bear  thee  up  in  their  hands,  lest  thou  dash  thy  foot  against 
a  stone. 

13.  Thou  shalt  tread  upon  the  lion  and  adder:  the  young  lion  and  the 
dragon  shalt  thou  trample  under  feet. 

14     Because  he  hath  set  his  own  love  upon  me,  therefore  will  I  deliver 
him:  I  will  set  him  on  high,  because  he  hath  known  my  name. 

15.  He  shall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will  answer  him:  I  -will  be  with  him  in 
trouble;  I  will  deliver  him,  and  honour  him. 

16.  With  long  Ufa  will  I  satisfy  him,  and  shew  him  my  salvation. 

Then  devoutly  and  with  much  earnestness  he  besought  God 
in  prayer  to  be  gracious  to  us,  and  to  protect  us  while  in  camp,  on 
the  march,  and  in  the  field.  Who  of  us  to  day  will  not  say  that 
the  prayers  of  that  pastor  and  his  church  were  wonderfully  an- 
swered, and  that  God  was  our  "refuge  and  our  fortress." 

Looking  back  over  the  engagements  this  battery  was  in,  and 
some  of  them  of  the  most  critical  and  hazardous  kind,  it  would 
seem  as  if  nothing  but  the  Divine  protection,  saved  us  again 
and  again,  from  being  captured  or  entirely  crushed. 

Concerning  our  brothers  who  fell  in  battle,  we  have  only 
words  of  praise  to  offer.  They  had  counted  the  cost  when  they 
enlisted.  They  counted  not  their  lives  dear  to  themselves,  if 
by  surrendering  their  lives  their  country  might  be  saved.  They 
were  true  and  valiant  men.  They  died  as  only  brave  men  die, 
— at  their  posts  of  duty  facing  the  foe.  The  first  to  fall  was 
our  noble-hearted,  gallant  Charles  W.  Everett,  A  better  Or- 
derly Sergeant  never  drew  a  reign  or  called  a  roll.  His  death 
was  sad  indeed,  and  what  seemed  to  us  a  calamity.  He  was 
the  first  of  our  number  to  establish  a  connecting  link  between 
our  Battery  and  heaven.  Belmont  and  Everett  must  ever  re- 
main associated  in  our  memories. 

At  the  battle  of  Donelson  Oscar  E.  Beckers  yielded  up  his 
life,  and  consecrated  the  soil  with  his  precious  blood.  His  dy- 
ing words  bespeak  what  sort  of  a  man  he  was,  "  Boys,  I  die  for 


3° 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 


liberty,  lay  me  down,  go  back  and  man  the  guns."  Such  a  dy- 
ing declaration  is  worthy  to  grace  the  pages  of  history  yet  to  be 
written,  and  to  serve  as  an  incentive  to  us  in  the  great  conflict 
of  life.  Then  there  was  that  fearless  soldier,  Frederick  Thomp- 
son fearless  to  a  fault,  who  bid  defiance  to  the  leaden  hail  at 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  dies  at  his  post  so  quickly  that  he  has 
no  time  to  close  his  eyes.  He  ceased  at  once  to  fight  and  live. 

ISo  we  might  mention  others  of  our  comrades  equally  brave, 
equally  true,  who  only  surrendered  to  death  himself.  Of  our 
brothers  who  died  in  hospital,  who  could  not  show  their  valor 
as  did  those  who  died  on  thq  field,  yet  they  too  displayed  hero- 
ism that  was  marked  and  even  glorious.  Wasting  away  by 
pining  sickness,  tortured  by  malarial  fevers,  they,  without  mur- 
muring or  regrets,  patiently  suffered  as  martyrs  for  their  coun- 
try's honor. 

•'  May  the  heart  never  throb  neath  the  heavens  above 

That  thrills  not  to  hear  of  their  story, 
And  the  arm  be  unnerved  that  would  seek  to  remove 
One  leaf  from  the  crown  of  their  glory." 

Nineteen  years  have  passed  and  fifty-six  of  our  number  are 
on  eternity's  side.  Year  by  year  our  numbers  will  grow  less. 
But  let  us  hope,  and  so  live,  that  as  our  ranks  become  depleted  on 
earth  they  may  become  repleted  in  heaven.  And  when  our 
Great  Captain  shall  order  the  general  roll-call,  may  all  the 
members  of  Battery  B  be  there  to  answer  "  HERE." 


NAME.  How  DIED. 

Lieut.  Levi  W.  Hart  Killed 

Sergt.  Charles  W.  Everett"  " 

Sergt.  Abraham  Hart  Disease 

Lieut.  H.  Nelson  Towner  " 

Lieut.  Wm.  M.  Taylor  " 

Lieut.  Wm.  Chandler  Killed 

Capt.  John  A.  More  Disease 

Sergt.  James  P.  Eason  " 

Andrew  J.  Grant         .  .         " 

Simeon  Y.  Prince   .         .  " 

Sergt.  S.  Curtis  P.  Bogue  Killed 

Alex.  H.  Beidleman   .  .        " 

Zebina  M.  Ball         .         .  Disease 

Oscar  E.  Beckers  Killed 


WHERE. 

In  Ashtabula  disaster,  Ohio. 
Wounded  at  Belmont. 
Chicago. 
Chicago. 
Chicago. 

Accident,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
New  York. 
Chicago. 

New  Orleans,  after  the  war. 
Chicago. 

Accident,  Hyde  Park. 
Front  of  Atlanta. 
In  hospital,  St.  Louis. 
Fort  Donelson 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 


Disease 
Killed 
ii 

Wound 


Killed 

Disease 

Killed 

u 

Disease 


NAME.  How  DIED. 

Lieut.  Timothy  M.  Blaisdell  Died 
Wm.  Blakie        ..." 
Sergt.  Wm.  Dudley  Crego        " 
John  Chatfield,  Jr.  . 
Lieut.  Howard  Gushing 
John  P.  Chalmar     . 
Lieut.  Wm.  DeWolf 
Jacob  Deal  man  . 
Charles  Edwards     . 
Henry  F.  Henrotin 
Sergt.  Charles  G.  Henny 
Samuel  Hadlock 
William  Hea,  Jr.      . 
Walter  E.  Hinman     . 
Charles  L.  Harrington    . 
Benjamin  F.  Johnson 
Frederick  Johnson  . 

George  F.  Kingsley    . 

Charles  Krause 
Charles  Kinsman 
Sergt.  Wm.  W.  Lowrie 
Capt.  Jonas  M.  Lembke 
John  Mustard 
Ora  McBride 
Wm.  B.  Mclntosh  . 
Douglas  K.  Newell     . 
Albert  J.  Putz 
Myron  C.  Ross  . 
Fred  C.  Russell 
Wm.  R.  Rogers 
Abner  A.  Rhodes    . 
Horace  Reed 
Wm.  J.  Stephens 
Edward  Spear     . 
Walter  Sherwood    . 
John  F.  Strangberg    . 
Fred  Thompson 
Thomas  E.  Taylor      . 
Samuel  T.  Wentworth    . 
Benjamin  M.  Warner 
Daniel  E.  Young     . 
Franklin  Crampton    . 


WHEKE. 

Marietta,  Ga. 

In  Kentucky,  after  the  war. 

In  Chicago. 

In  hospital,  Bridgeport,  Ala. 

In  Regular  Army. 

Front  of  Atlanta. 

Washington. 

Front  of  Atlanta. 

Soldiers'  Home,  Milwaukee, 

Seige  of  Vicksburg. 

In  Chicago. 

Front  of  Atlanta. 

At  Stevenson,  Ala.,  after  the  war. 

Arkansas,  after  the  war. 

March  from  Corinth  to  Memphis. 

In  service  on  Tennessee  River. 

Hospital  at  Memphis. 

Hospital  boat  between  Ft.  Donel- 
son  and  Corinth. 

In  Chicago. 

In  hospital,  luka,  Miss. 

In  Wisconsin. 

In  Battle,  at  Helena. 

In  Hospital  in  Tennessee. 
Bridgeport,  Ala.,  in  service. 

In  Hospital,  Vicksburg. 

Seige  of  Vicksburg. 

At  Shiloh. 

Toledo,  Ohio. 
"  In  Chicago. 

"  In  Hospital. 

"  In  Hospital,  St.  Louis. 

"  In  Chicago. 

Wounds   Mound  City,  received  at  Shiloh. 
Disease     After  service  in  New  Jersey. 
"  In  Chicago. 

In  Hospital  at  Atlanta. 

At  Seige  of  Vicksburg. 

In  Chicago. 

In  Chicago. 

Hospital  at  Vicksburg. 

After  service,  in  New  Jersey. 

In  Kansas,  after  service. 


Killed 
Disease 


Killed 


Disease 


Died 


Disease 


32  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Killed  or  died  from  wounds  received  in  the  Battle  of  Belmon',  r 

"         "             "             "             "             "  Ft.  Donelson,  i 

"              "         "             "             "            "            "  Shiloh,  2- 

.               "         "             "             '«             "             «  Vicksburg,  3 

"              "        "            "            "             "            "  Atlanta,  6 

"               "         "             "             "             "             "  in  Virginia,  i 

Total,  -                                       14 

Killed  in  battle  after  the  War  for  the  Union,  -                                      -         2 

Died  of  disease  during  the  service,     -  13 

Deceased  since  the  close  of  the  War,      -  -       27 

Total  known  to  be  on  the  Death  Roll,  56 

The  quartette  then  sang  "  Shall  we  meet  beyond  the  river." 

CAPT.  RUMSEY:  Now  Mr,  Chairman,  I  move  you  that  as 
our  dear  brother  and  companion  is  pastor  of  the  Michigan 
Avenue  Methodist  Church,  that  when  we  adjourn,  we  adjourn 
to  meet  to-morrow  evening  at  seven  o'clock  at  the  basement  of 
his  church,  where  we  may  form  and  go  to  church  together  once 
more  and  hear  our  companion  and  soldier  preach.  Now  in 
voting  on  this,  I  would  request  that  none  will  vote  in  favor  of 
it  but  those  that  will  go;  that  will  decide  whether  there  will  be 
enough  of  it  there  to  make  it  best  for  us  to  undertake  it.  I 
make  that  motion  and  I  think  it  would  be  a  very  nice  thing  be- 
cause you  will  remember  that  this  is  not  the  last  day,  the  last 
terrible  day  of  Donelson  was  to-morrow,  the  I5th.  Motion 
seconded. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  All  those  in  favor  of  going  to  church 
will  signify  by  standing. 

Twenty -six  members  arose. 

MR.  VAN  HORN:  I  thank  you,  comrades,  for  your  com- 
pliment, I  have  no  special  sermon  prepared  for  the  occasion, 
but  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,  but  we  will  reserve  seats  for  you 
and  do  the  best  we  can. 

MR.  TURNER:  I  have  no  doubt  that  many  of  our  com- 
rades here  would  have  very  much  liked  to  have  gone  to-mor- 
row evening,  but  previous  engagements,  as  I  understand,  and 
some  parties  live  out  of  town,  which  prevented  them  from 
voting. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Now  the  next  toast,  gentlemen,  is 
"The  day  we  celebrate — Fort  Donelson."  H.  W.  Dudley. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  33 

Response  by  H.  W.  DUDLEY. 

"THE  DAY  WE  CELEBRATE." 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  AND  COMRADES: — In  rising  to  respond  to 
the  toast  you  have  so  kindly  assigned  me,  permit  me  to  thank  the 
committee  for  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  me  in  the  selection 
of  my  subject,  for,  who  of  us  does  not  remember  with  an  intensity 
of  recollection,  the  scenes  directly  connected  with  the  battle, 
and  the  associations  which  cluster  around  Fort  Donelson. 

While  it  was  not  our  first  battle,  for  Fredericktown  and 
Belmont  had  been  stamped  upon  our  experience,  and  the  inci- 
dents and  excitements  connected  with  the  capture  of  Fort 
Henry  were  ours,  it  was  the  first  battle  of  gigantic  and  national 
proportions  in  which  we  had  been  called  to  engage,  and  in 
which  victory  was  so  completely  with  our  arms  that  the  news 
of  it  caused  a  thrill  of  joy  to  vibrate  through  the  length  and 
breadth  of  our  north-land. 

It  was  also,  I  believe,  the  first  great  success  which  had  thus 
far  in  the  war,  crowned  the  efforts  of  our  armies,  and  while  to 
those  of  us  who  were  actual  participants,  its  results  were  exhil- 
arating in  a  remarkable  degree  at  the  time,  and  its  memories 
are  so  woven  into  the  texture  of  our  being  that  they  cannot  be 
obliterated,  so  did  it  furnish  to  the  nation  a  watchword  and 
rallying  cry,  which  stimulated  them  to  renewed  efforts  and  sac- 
rifices for  the  accomplishment  of  the  grand  purposes  for  which 
the  conflict  was  waged. 

As  only  a  reminiscence  is  expected  of  me,  I  invite  you  to 
return  with  me  in  memory  to  the  nth  of  February,  1862, 
where  in  the  morning,  within  the  outer  works  of  Fort  Henry 
we  were  quietly  in  camp  awaiting  orders,  which  we  felt  im- 
pressed, must  soon  come  for  a  forward  movement.  At  4  p.  in. 
they  did  come,  and  our  brigade  under  the  lamented  Genl.  W. 
H.  L.  Wallace  was  soon  upon  the  march,  in  the  direction  of 
Fort  Donelson.  Proceeding  about  four  miles  we  went  into 
camp,  and  although  without  tents,  passed  a  not  uncomfortable 
and  restful  night.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  I2th  we 
were  again  upon  the  march  and  at  1 1  a.  m.  came  in  sight  of 
the  enemy's  pickets. 

I  distinctly  remember  how,  bearing  off  to  the  right,  up  hills 


34  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

and  clown  ravines  we  followed  after  the  brigade  of  General 
Oglesby  which  was  in  the  advance  from  this  time,  until  after 
many  halts  and  much  weariness  we  reached  a  position  not  far 
from  the  centre  of  the  field  of  operation,  and  at  ten  o'clock 
wrapped  ourselves  in  our  blankets  and  within  easy  range  of  the 
enemy's  guns,  retired  for  a  time  from  the  consciousness  of  wars 
or  rumors  of  wars,  until  the  morning  light  brought  back  to  us  its 
sad  realities.  Soon  after  daylight  of  the  I3th  (Thursday)  the 
firing  on  our  right  indicated  to  us  that  work  was  to  be  done, 
and  soon  receiving  orders  to  proceed  in  that  direction,  we  took 
up  our  line  of  march  and  at  ten  o'clock  went  into  position  on 
the  open  ground  of  a  commanding  bluff,  where  we  soon  began 
giving  the  "Johnnies"  a  taste  of  both  our  music  and  metal. 

Here  it  was,  I  remember,  where  Sergt.  Whittle  and  Corpo- 
ral Lilly  were  wounded,  and  here  also  fell  our  brave  and  noble 
Beckers,  leaving  to  us  memories  not  only  of  his  genial  and 
manly  nature,  but  those  inspiring  words  which  he  uttered  while 
being  carried  to  the  rear  and  as  his  life  blood  ebbed  away, 
which  come  up  before  us  even  now  at  every  whisper  of  his 
name,  "  I  die  for  liberty  boys,  go  back  and  man  the  gun." 
Noble  words  from  a  brave  and  patriotic  soldier,  and  eminently 
fitting  was  it  that  they  should  be,  as  they  were,  chiseled  in 
granite  at  Rose  Hill.  Let  us  ever  rejoice  that  it  is  ours  to  cher- 
ish his  memory. 

During  this  eventful  day  I  recall  the  changing  of  our  posi- 
tion from  time  to  time  as  the  necessities  of  the  case  seemed  to 
demand,  the  attempt  of  Col.  Morrison  on  our  left,  with  three 
regiments  of  infantry,  to  charge  a  portion  of  the  rebel  fortifi- 
cations which  resulted  so  disastrously,  the  catching  fire  of  the 
leaves  on  the  track  of  the  charge  which  burned  some  of  the 
wounded  and  dead  left  on  the  field,  and  I  also  recall,  although 
it  seems  hardly  necessary  that  I  should  mention  it,  as  it  must  be 
vividly  impressed  upon  each  one  of  your  memories,  the  very 
great  change  in  the  weather  which  occurred,  turning  from  a 
pleasant  morning  to  a  cold  rain  and  sleet  storm  before  night, 
which  found  us  without  tents  or  shelter,  and  for  fear  of  draw- 
ing the  enemy's  fire  we  were  allowed  none,  and  so  the  night 
set  in,  bringing  to  us,  to  say  the  least,  a  very  uncomfortable 
prospect.  It  was  also  upon  this  night  and  under  these  circum- 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  35 

stances  that  at  about  ten  o'clock  picket-firing  on  our  right  called 
us  to  face  the  storm  and  stand  by  our  guns  until  midnight,  when 
we  were  allowed  again  to  seek  whatever  shelter  we  could  find 
until  morning.  This  night  I  personally  remember  and  always 
shall,  as  the  one  in  which  I  suffered  more  than  upon  any  other 
occasion  of  my  life,  and  I  cannot  but  think  that  my  own  was 
the  experience  of  many  of  you. 

Friday  was  passed  1  believe  without  any  participation  on 
the  part  of  our  Battery  in  the  engagement,  we  having  been  or- 
dered in  the  morning  to  a  ravine  in  the  rear,  where  we  were 
under  cover  from  the  rebel  guns,  and  where  we  awaited  with 
deep  anxiety  the  result  of  the  attack  and  severe  bombardment 
of  the  river  batteries  by  our  gunboats.  I  remember  here  the 
temporary  feeling  of  gloom  which  ensued  upon  the  news  reach- 
ing us  of  their  failure  and  withdrawal  from  the  contest,  and  also 
with  great  pleasure  the  cheering  words  of  some  of  our  boys 
which  acted  as  a  tonic  upon  us  all,  stimulating  us  to  a  forget- 
ful ness  of  the  dark  and  a  looking  forward  only  to  the  bright 
side  of  our  situation. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  we  were  ordered  up  to  the  brow  of 
the  hill  that  we  might  be  ready  for  action  in  the  morning,  and 
seeking  the  retirement  of  our  blankets  we  awaited  in  visions  of 
deep  sleep  the  uncertainty  of  the  morrow. 

Awakened  on  Saturday  by  the  early  compliments  of  our 
rebel  friends,  in  the  shape  of  thickly  falling  shot  and  shell  in 
our  very  midst,  we  hurriedly  and  without  waiting  for  our  reg- 
ular "  hard  tack  and  bacon  "  got  our  guns  into  position  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill  and  began  to  return  the  enemy's  fire.  I 
remember  that  for  some  time  this  was  what  we  used  to  call  a 
hot  place,  as  in  addition  to  those  in  our  immediate  front  we 
were  subject  to  a  cross  fire  from  some  rifled  guns  the  rebels  had 
on  our  left.  At  this  time  and  place  it  was  that  our  horses  suf- 
fered so  severely  and  where  our  Battery  guard,  Company  D  of 
the  i  ith  Illinois  Infantry,  also  were  called  to  suffer  loss. 
Fighting  was  continued  with  great  severity  along  the  whole 
line,  and  before  noon  Gen.  Smith's  Brigade  on  the  left  had  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  works,  while  on 
our  right  the  conflict  raged  with  great  fury,  until  finally  the 
enemy,  leaving  his  entrenchments,  massed  his  forces  under 


36  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

General  Pillow,  against  our  extreme  right,  with  the  evident 
purpose  of  doubling  us  up  and  if  possible  of  making  his  escape. 
I  cannot  but  recall,  as  you  doubtless  all  do,  how  at  this  time  our 
brigade  was  called  upon  to  suffer,  and  especially  so  the  i  ith 
Illinois  Infantry  under  the  brave  and  lamented  Col.  Ransom, 
who  was  among  the  wounded.  With  this  regiment  we  had 
been  more  intimately  associated  than  any  other,  and  their  loss 
in  killed  alone  reaching  considerably  over  sixty,  was  a  severe 
loss  to  both  them  and  us.  I  recall  with  what  sorrow  I  stood 
around  the  grave  which  received  them  all,  on  the  day  of  the 
surrender.  But  to  return  to  the  conflict,  our  right  had  been 
slowly  crowded  back",  until  the  ammunition  of  our  infantry 
giving  out,  the  Brigade  of  General  Oglesby  and  our  own  were 
compelled  to  fall  back,  with  the  rebels  pressing  us  as  closely  as 
they  could.  Just  here  an  incident  comes  to  my  mind  which 
will  bear  repeating,  bringing  to  view  as  it  does  the  soldierly 
qualities  of  our  lamented  comrade,  Corporal  Henny.  The  re- 
treat had  become  general  on  the  right,  and  as  the  troops  passed 
the  gun  of  Squad  4,  still  in  position,  with  no  orders  to  retreat, 
Corporal  Henny  being,  in  the  absence  of  all  other  officers,  in 
command,  (Lieut. White  had  gone  for  orders)  he  was  importuned 
by  numerous  officers  as  they  passed  to  fall  into  the  line  of  re- 
treat, as  they  stated  the  rebels  were  near  at  hand  and  would 
certainly  take  us  and  our  gun,  but  the  only  answer  he  gave  to 
them  all  was  he  had  no  orders  to  retreat  and  without  them  he 
would  not  move  a  step.  He  too  is  now,  I  regret  to  say,  num- 
bered with  the  great  army  of  the  brave  dead,  but  his  heroic  vir- 
tues we  still  cherish. 

Our  retreat  was  only  for  a  short  distance,  when  after  cross- 
ing a  deep  ravine,  two  of  our  guns  were  ordered  into  position 
covering  the  retreat  and  being  soon  joined  by  two  guns  of  Bat- 
tery A'  under  Lieut.  Wood,  and  well  supported  by  fresh  troops 
we  awaited  the  appearance  of  the  enemy.  He  soon  showed 
himself  in  our  immediate  front  and  was  saluted  with  a  severe 
storm  of  lead  and  canister  from  our  wall  of  guns  and  troops, 
which  not  only  stopped  the  pursuit,  but  after  some  terrible 
fighting  compelled  him  to  retreat,  in  which  he  was  so  closely 
followed  up  by  our  troops  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  ar- 
tillery captured  from  us  in  the  morning  and  make  the  best  of 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  37 

his  way  back  to  within  the  shelter  of  his  entrenchments  again. 
During  this  exciting  afternoon  it  was  that  Mason  and  Machin 
were  wounded.  So  ended  the  severest  day's  fighting  of  the 
siege,  with  the  rebels  discomfitted  at  every  point,  and  with  our 
troops  generally  in  the  best  of  spirits.  At  night  our  brigade 
was  ordered  to  a  new  position  near  the  centre,  where  we,  wrap- 
ping ourselves  in  our  blankets  for  the  night,  closed  our  eyes  in 
the  full  expectation  that  the  morrow  would  reveal  bloodier 
scenes  than  we  had  yet  witnessed,  but  the  morning  light  dis- 
closed to  our  joyous  eyes  the  white  flag  of  surrender  waving 
from  different  points  of  the  enemy's  works,  which  provoked 
cheer  after  cheer  as  the  news  flew  from  regiment  to  regiment 
till  the  woods  and  hills  fairly  rang,  filling  us  all  with  an  enthus- 
iasm which  beamed  from  every  face  and  was  the  burden  of 
every  voice. 

Very  early  in  the  morning  the  enemy  had  intimated  to  our 
commander  his  desire  tj  arrange  a  basis  for  capitulation,  at 
which  time  he  received  that  well  remembered  message  in  re- 
turn, "  Nothing  but  unconditional  surrender  and  I  propose  to 
move  immediately  upon  your  works,"  which  was  followed  at 
once  by  a  full  compliance  with  the  demand.  From  this  day 
was  the  U.  S.  of  our  commander's  name  invested  with  a  new 
and  to  the  people  of  both  North  and  South  the  more  emphatic 
meaning  of  unconditional  surrender. 

I  well  rememte  •  with  what  eagerness  we  awaited  the  order  on 
this  beautiful  Sabbath  morning  to  march,  and  with  what  added 
feelings  of  pleasure  to  us  all,  came  the  order  to  take  the  post  of 
honor  in  the  fort  itself,  and  salute  with  thirteen  guns  the  dear 
old  flag  as  it  was  given  to  the  breeze  for  the  first  time  over  the 
ramparts  of  Fort  Donelson. 

Thus  ended  a  siege  which  was  not  only  prolific  in  tangible 
results,  but  gave  to  our  armies  a  key  which  unlocked  to  them  a 
vast  territory,  the  possession  of  which  threw  consternation  and 
gloom  into  the  armies  of  the  rebellion.  The  capture  of  nearlv 
15,000  prisoners,  63  pieces  of  artillery,  with  a  large  amount  of 
small  arms,  stores,  etc.,  thus  early  in  the  national  conflict,  was 
no  inconsiderable  gain  to  us  or  loss  to  them,  and  the  moral 
power  of  the  enthusiasm  created  at  the  north  by  this  victory  it 
was  impossible  to  estimate. 


38  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  remind  you  that  to  the  soldierly  bear- 
ing of  the  members  of  our  battery  and  to  the  good  work  done 
by  it  during  these  days  of  battle,  the  official  reports  of  our 
brigade  and  division  commanders  bear  ample  testimony  and 
the  presentation  to  us  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Chicago,  at 
the  hands  of  a  committee  specially  sent  to  us,  of  a  beautiful 
banner,  attested  anew  their  interest  and  pride  in  us  as  their  rep- 
resentatives not  only,  but  their  appreciation  of  our  services  in 
this  special  campaign.  [Loud  cheers.] 

MR.  VAN  HORN:  Comrades,  I  will  ask  you  to  excuse  me. 
I  will  state  that  our  services  commence  to-morrow  evening  at 
half  past  seven  o'clock,  at  which  time  we  shall  be  pleased  to 
see  all  who  can  come,  at  our  Michigan  Avenue  Church. 

The  Quartette  then  sang  "John  Brown's  Body." 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Our  next  toast,  gentlemen,  is  "Our 
First  Surprise— Shiloh,  W.  T.  Shepherd." 

Response  by  W.  T.  SHEPHERD. 

BROTHERS  AND  COMRADES,  I  don't  know  how  I  can  get 
along  with  this  little  matter  of  Surprise.  Some  of  our  leading 
men,  referring  to  the  great  surprise,  said  we  were  not  surprised. 
Well  perhaps  we  were  not  surprised. 

A  VOICE:     We  were  astonished. 

MR.  SHEPHERD:  Thank  you;  that  is  a  better  word  per- 
haps; we  were  astonished,  and  so  we  would  have  been  aston- 
ished if  our  commissary  had  presented  us  with  this  beautiful 
banquet,  and  so  we  would  be  surprised  if  we  woke  up  in  the 
night  and  found  our  wife  had  landed  us  on  the  floor.  I  would 
say  in  the  words  of  one  of  the  poets  of  the  regiment,  '•  For  cer- 
tainty we  were  surprised."  Now  would  we  be  surprised  if 
Tom  Ashbrook,  in  scraping  on  his  old  fiddle,  should  break  into 
the  old  "  Arkansaw  Traveler?" 

Well,  it  was  pretty  well  settled  that  we  were  surprised,  and 
not  only  surprised  but  astonished  on  that  morning.  This  oc- 
curred on  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  April,  at  about  half-past 
seven  o'clock,  1862.  You  all  know  how  we  were  in  camp  at 
Shiloh  church,  that  peaceable  place,  but  it  proved  to  be  a  pretty 
sharp  place  before  we  got  through  with  it.  You  remember  we 
found  a  spring  of  cold  water,  which  was,  I  think,  the  finest 
spring  of  water  we  found  on  the  whole  trip.  At  seven  thirty 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  39 

in  the  morning  we  could  see  the  "rebs"  on  our  left,  and  a  little 
while  after  we  could  see  them  coming  over  that  little  open  space, 
the  cavalry  and  infantry  and  artillery  as  if  they  were  going  to 
swallow  us  all  up,  and  they  were  very  near  doing  it,  and  before 
we  got  out  of  that  spot,  the  bullets  were  flying  on  all  sides. 
We  had  repulsed  them  t\vice,  and  only  when  we  were  forced  to 
go  back  did  we  retire  at  all.  Right  at  this  point  I  should  speak 
of  our  friend  and  comrade  Jerry  Stevens.  He  received  a 
cannon  ball  in  the  side  of  his  knee,  and  as  we  carried  him  and 
put  him  into  the  ambulance,  I  could  see  the  distress  on  his  mind, 
not  because  he  was  hurt,  but  because  he  was  obliged  to  be  car- 
ried off  in  that  way. 

After  a  terrible  fight  of  two  or  three  hours  we  were  forced 
to  fall  back.  Our  next  position  was  at  the  outer  edge  of  that 
open  space.  There  is  where  the  artillery  duel  occurred,  and  of 
all  the  hot  places  in  our  experience,  I  think  we  may  say 
that  was  the  hottest.  When  you  get  two  batteries  face  to  face 
and  work  them  together,  it  means  business  and  nothing  else. 
I  don't  recollect  in  my  own  mind  how  long  it  lasted,  but  sure- 
ly it  was  long  enough.  One  of  our  number,  A.  J.  Putz,  was 
killed,  and  I  think  five  were  wounded,  among  them  Ramsdell 
and  Edwards.  I  haven't  the  data  to  show.  General  Taylor 
tells  me  that  Captain  White's  horse  was  shot  from  under  him 
at  that  place.  I  don't  doubt  it,  for  it  was  almost  impossible  for 
any  living  thing  to  stand  there  very  long.  The  rest  of  the  day, 
I  think,  after  that  bitter  time,  was  spent  in  falling  back  to  the 
river,  slowly  we  went  back,  not  in  a  rush  or  run  like  some  of 
those  men — perhaps  you  will  remember  of  one  of  them  ;  I  think 
it  was  some  civilian,  who  got  near  that  corner  of  the  open 
space  nearest  the  landing,  and  he  rushed  along  with  his 
coat-tails  flying  and  shouted  out  all  the  way  there:  "I  am 
coming."  And  who  do  you  think  it  was  who  was  in  his 
way  at  the  time?  Nobody  else  but  General  Grant  and  his 
staff.  You  will  remember  how,  as  we  took  our  station  under 
the  hill  that  night,  after  the  artillery  line  had  been  formed, 
under  General  Webster,  that  we  were  crowded  into  a  very 
small  space.  It  was  a  terrible  night.  During  the  night  the 
gun  boats  kept  piping  away  at  the  enemy,  throwing  a  terrible 
fire  of  shot  and  shell  into  the  rebels — into  their  camp.  I  re- 


40  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

member  that  one  of  our  boys  saw  the  next  morning,  six  rebels 
at  the  foot  of  a  tree  killed  through  one  of  those  shots.  Of 
course  through  that  night  there  was  but  little  rest,  we  all  felt 
that  our  position  was  a  critical  one,  but  of  course  we  were  look- 
ing with  great  anxiety  for  General  Buell's  forces,  who  were  said 
to  be  coming.  I  have  had  the  cold  chills  running  down  my 
back,  but  never  before  with  such  a  severe  feeling  of  thanks  to 
God  that  help  was  near,  never  before  have  I  felt  anything  equal 
to  that  moment  when  the  relief  came,  and  with  fresh  troops  to 
those  who  were  left,  and  we  started  in  the  morning  with  an 
earnest  endeavor  to  save  the  day  which  had  been  so  terribly  and 
fatally  lost.  The  next  morning  was  the  rush  and  roar  of  battle, 
and  how  it  held  out  with  unceasing  severity  until  noon,  when 
we  rested  in  our  uncomfortable  and  poor  way.  We  were  al- 
most knee  deep  in  mud  at  the  river  bottom  in  that  terrible  place, 
but  at  noon  time  the  orders  came  to  proceed  and  take  the  front 
once  more.  Do  I  not  remember  with  what  misgivings  we 
started  out,  and  thought  it  was  to  result  as  it  did  the  day  before, 
and  that  our  efforts  would  be  in  vain,  that  we  would  go  into  the 
fight  with  barely  a  possibility  of  ever  coming  out,  but  as  we 
moved  along  across  to  the  rebels,  we  found  no  enemy,  they  were 
retreating,  and  our  advance  began  almost  to  be  a  rush,  and  the 
news  came  to  us  before  we  had  reached  the  old  camping  ground, 
we  found  that  the  enemy  had  retreated  and  that  the  day  was 
still  ours.  I  remember  as  we  crossed  that  ground  we  could  see 
the  effects  of  the  terrible  day's  fight,  and  that  morning,  I  don't 
think  that  of  all  my  war  experience,  I  ever  saw  anything  that 
showed  so  terribly  the  horrors  of  war  as  that  battle.  I  noticed 
in  that  space  the  dead  and  dying,  the  artillery  horses  and  caissons 
and  baggage  wagons,  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  war  strewed 
all  over  the  ground.  It  showed  the  terrible  day  that  had  passed 
over  that  ground.  I  don't  think  we  could  have  stopped  in  a 
camp  under  any  circumstances,  where  the  scenes  and  horrors  of 
war  were  so  deeply  impressed  in  our  minds,  as  they  were  that 
night.  When  we  went  into  camp  that  night,  we  could  count 
at  least  300  dead  and  dying,  I  think  some  of  our  boys  remem- 
ber our  endeavor  to  get  a  good  night's  rest,  some  of  them  rushed 
into  a  tent  for  straw,  and  found  a  dead  rebel,  and  I  think  they 
said  that  rebel  didn't  have  much  rest  for  at  least  an  hour. 


Edwd.  Terry,  Peter  McGee,  Wm.  W.  Breckbill,  Edwd.  Rook, 

Sergt.  W.  W.  Lowrie,  Corpl.  D.  P.  Young, 

Jno.  Graham,  J.    D.  Loomer.  Chas.  F.  Jackson,  Jno.  A.  Brown. 


Jno.  F.  Stranberg,  Thos.  Ellis, 

Godfrey  Johnson, 
Jno.  P.  Chalmon,  Fred  Johnson. 


S.  P.  Coe,  Chauncey  \V.  Wicker 

Orderly  Sergt.  T.  M.  Blaisdell, 
F.  C.  Russel,  B.    M.  Warner. 


REUNIOX  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  41 

After  we  took  that  camp  we  were  looking  around  for  some- 
thing to  eat;  and  I  know  we  found  a  sutler's  tent  that  had 
been  captured  the  day  before  by  the  rebels,  and  given  up,  and 
again  captured  and  recaptured  by  us,  and  we  helped  our- 
selves to  canned  tripe  and  oysters  and  crackers  and  sweet  cake, 
and  the  next  day  we  buried  those  that  lay  on  the  field.  I  re- 
member how  we  buried  fifty  or  sixty  in  one  grave,  and  in 
several  places,  from  ten  to  twenty-five.  Our  Corporal,  Jim 
Moore,  was  there,  and  I  remember  how  he  saw  and  buried  a 
rebel  officer,  who  was  found  sitting  up  against  a  tree  with  a 
testament  in  his  hand.  I  am  sure  we  can't  but  say  that  many 
were  the  sad  feelings  that  must  have  passed  through  his  mind 
as  he  sat  there  and  gave  up  his  life,  surely  thinking  that 
his  was  the  holiest  cause  of  the  war,  and  how  mistaken  we 
may  all  be  sometimes  in  our  experiences  of  life,  and  make  mis- 
takes, as  he  did,  unintentionally,  I  have  no  doubt,  and  we  all 
know  those  rebels  were  just  as  sincere,  some  of  them,  to  save 
their  rights,  as  we  were  to  serve  our  country. 

I  am  sure  that  this  surprise  resulted  to  us  in  a  victory.  The 
number  of  men  engaged  on  our  side,  was  larger  than  many 
battles  in  the  war,  and  the  results,  as  shown  by  the  records,  were 
surely  the  greatest  to  us  of  any  battle  that  preceded  or  followed 
it.  It  broke  the  back  of  Beauregard's  army  and  I  think  he  ac- 
knowledged if  he  lost  that  battle  his  cause  was  lost. 

I  can  hardly  go  through  with  this  because  it  is  late.  I  have 
not  written  out  any  set  speech,  I  am  only  saying  what  comes 
into  my  mind. 

I  hope,  in  conclusion,  that  when  the  great  trump  shall  sound, 
the  bugle  sound  shall  come  for  us  all,  we  may  not  be  surprised,  but 
I  hope  that  all  shall  be  ready.  I  hope  that  while  we  are  here, 
fighting  the  battles  of  life,  we  shall  not  surprise  our  friends  by 
anything  that  we  do,  except  in  doing  good;  I  hope  that  while 
we  make  errors,  they  shall  be  of  judgment  and  not  inten- 
tional; and  I  hope  that  our  entire  life  shall  not  be  a  surprise 
to  anyone,  but  we  will  endeavor  to  do,  every  day  and  every 
year  of  the  whole  of  our  life,  up  to  the  end,  as  we  ought  to  do, 
and  be  ready  to  give  an  account  of  what  we  have  done  honestly 
and  earnestly  in  the  cause  of  right  and  freedom.  [Loud  cheers.] 


42  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  next  regular  toast  is  "Our  First 
Brigade  Commander — General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace." 

Response  by  CAPTAIN  I.  P.  RUMSEY. 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  AND  COMRADES: — I  shall  say  hut  little, 
although  at  the  mention  of  Gen.  Wallace's  name,  my  heart  beats 
faster,  and  I  feel  sad.  But  I  would  like  to  hear  from  every 
comrade  to-night,  and  therefore  as  the  hour  is  getting  late,  I 
will  say  very  little,  although  it  is  not  justice  to  that  noble  soldier 
and  great  friend  of  Battery  B,  General  Wallace.  He  deserves 
a  great  deal  of  time;  he  deserves  our  greatest  love,  as  he,  with 
his  noble  and  great  heart,  loved  this,  "  Taylor's  "  Battery. 

I  was  chosen  by  him  to  act  as  his  assistant  adjutant-general, 
for  a  time.  I  considered  it  a  great  compliment  to  this  battery, 
as  I  felt  my  great  unworthiness  and  unfitness  for  the  position; 
but  it  is  one  of  my  most  precious  memories,  that  I  was  honored 
with  that  position,  and  was  permitted  to  sleep  under  the  same 
blanket  with  that  noble  man,  from  the  time  we  left  Bird's  Point, 
until  that  dreary  night  when  he  laid  in  the  rain,  mortally 
wounded,  on  the  cold  ground  among  the  rebels,  while  I  laid  in 
the  tent  where,  the  night  before,  we  had  slept  together. 

We  saw  the  tenderness  of  his  heart  when,  as  we  started  from 
Cairo,  he  received  the  news  of  the  death  of  his  youngest 
brother,  an  officer  in  the  Fourth  Cavalry,  who  was  drowned 
from  their  boat  as  it  laid  at  Cairo,  but  still  the  man  and  the 
soldier  went  bravely  on  with  present  duty. 

As  we  proceeded  up  the  river,  he  was  always  looking  after 
the  welfare  of  Taylor's  Battery.  His  first  act  was  to  give  one 
of  his  best  companies, — the  Rockford — to  support  and  help 
Battery  "  B."  At  Donelson — that  terrible  night — as  we  were 
stationed  there  in  front  of  the  rebs,  (as  comrade  Dudley  has 
mentioned),  notice  came  from  the  picket  to  General  Wallace, 
that  there  was  a  good  deal  of  motion  and  noise  in  our  front,  and 
that  the  enemy  were  probably  moving  out  from  their  works. 

Gen.  Wallace  and  I  were  lying  in  a  tent  when  the  report 
was  brought.  He  instructed  me  to  order  the  Brigade  into  line, 
remarking,  "It  is  too  bad  to  turn  the  boys  out  of  their  blankets." 
How  well  we  all  remember  that  night,  with  its  sleet  and  snow. 
I  obeyed  orders,  but  by  the  time  I  returned  to  headquarters  my 
teeth  were  chattering  from  cold  and  nervousness,  and  I  was 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTER Y.  43. 

very  angry  with   myself  lest  the  good   General  should  think  I 
was  shaking  with  fear. 

Nothing,  however,  developed  in  our  front,  and  after  one 
hour,  I  again  passed  along  the  line,  with  orders  to  lie  down. 

On  the  next  day — eighteen  years  ago  to-morrow — as  Mac- 
Arthur's  Brigade  had  broken,  and  Oglesby's  Brigade  was 
falling  back,  the  rebel  bullets  began  to  come  along  between  us 
and  our  troops,  paralleling  our  line,  showing  that  they  were 
working  around  in  our  rear;  I  made  the  remark,  "  They  are 
flanking  us  and  will  get  around  in  our  rear."  He  was  a  man 
of  few  words,  and  made  no  immediate  reply,  but  presently  said, 
"  Rumsey,  you  go  to  McClernand,  tell  him  that  MacArthur 
has  broken,  Oglesby  is  breaking,  and  it  is  necessary  to  with- 
draw and  change  our  front,  and  form  a  new  line  to  the  left  and 
rear." 

I  found  McClernand,  and  repeated  what  the  General  had 
told  me,  that  it  was  necessary  to  withdraw  and  change  our  front,, 
and  try  to  hold  the  enemy  while  Generals  Oglesby  and  Mac- 
Arthur  rallied.  He  said,  "  Tell  Gen.  Wallace,  if  it  is  absolutely 
necessary,  to  withdraw  and  form  the  new  line."  Gen.  Wallace 
then  gave  me  the  order  to  move  the  troops  by  the  left  flank  and 
form  the  new  line,  changing  front  to  the  right.  I  did  so, 
and  he  immediately  started  for  the  right  where  Gen.  Ransom, 
with  the  iith  111.,  were  fighting  hand  to  hand  with  the  rebels. 

He  then  sent  Davis,  of  his  staff,  with  word  to  Lew  Wallace,, 
who  was  lying  to  the  left  and  rear  with  fresh  troops.  Capt. 
Davis  finding  Gen.  Lew  Wallace,  gave  him  Gen.  W.  H.  L. 
Wallace's  message,  to  which  Lew  Wallace  replied,  "  I  would 
be  glad  to  see  Wallace,  and  any  suggestion  he  has  to  make  will 
be  gladly  received  and  acted  upon."  Receiving  this  answer,. 
W.  H.  L.  Wallace  rode  rapidly  to  Lew  Wallace,  (ignoring 
Gen.  McClernand,  his  Division  Commander,)  and  pointing  out 
the  situation,  suggested  what  seemed  to  him  necessary  to  save 
McClernand's  Division,  and  perhaps  the  day ;  which  was,  that 
he — Lew  Wallace, — should  bring  his  fresh  troops  to  our  front 
and  hold  the  Rebels,  while  we  replenished  ammunition,  and 
Generals  Oglesby  and  MacArthur  rallied. 

Forward  they  came,  filed  into  the  right,  about  twenty  five 
yards  in  front  of  our  Brigade;  also  one  section  of  Battery  •'  A,'r 


44  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

commanded  by  my  brother,  which  Col.  Taylor  placed  on  the 
left  of  our  Battery ;  they  had  no  sooner  unlimbered,  than  the 
rebels  reached  our  lines  and  the  leaden  hail  flew  wickedly,  but 
found  more  ready  ammunition  than  they  expected.  Mark  the 
power  of  comprehension,  the  cool,  clear  generalship  of  our 
hero,  Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

Soon  after  this,  Gen.  J.  D.  Webster,  (Gen.  Grant's  Chief 
of  Artillery,)  came  and  told  us  that  Gen.  Grant's  orders  were, 
to  prepare  for  a  general  charge  along  the  whole  line.  Lew 
Wallace  taking  the  right;  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  right  resting  on 
Lew  Wallace's  left.  This  would  compel  us  to  charge  over  the 
terrible  field  which  the  45th  and  48th  111.  Regiments,  under 
command  of  Col.  Haynie,  (of  48th  111.,)  charged  only  two  days 
before,  and  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and  in  front  of  the 
Fort  which  they  were  not  able  to  reach. 

In  our  front  lay  a  German  Regiment  of  fully  1,000  men  and 
officers,  who  could  hardly  understand  English.  I  said  to  Gen. 
Wallace,  "  We  cannot  move  forward  until  those  Germans  are 
removed."  He  replied,"!  will  move  them  when  the  time 
comes." 

No  order  came, — thank  the  Lord! — for  a  charge  that  night, 
and  as  the  light  of  day  began  to  fade,  I  felt  relieved. 

Afterwards  alluding  to  it,  Gen.  Wallace  said,  "Do  you 
remember  that  German  Regiment?  It  was  a  good  one  to  have 
in  front  of  us  if  we  had  received  orders  to  make  that  charge." 

After  dark  that  Saturday  night,  Feb.  I5th,  we  received 
orders  to  move  back  to  the  rear  and  left,  camp  for  the  night, 
and  count  up  our  forces. 

Sunday  morning  we  expected  a  general  charge,  but  report 
cime  that  the  enemy  had  surrendered.  Gen.  Wallace  ordered 
me  to  form  the  Brigade,  and  move  it  forward  clown  the  road 
toward  the  enemy's  lines,  while  he  went  forward  to  satisfy 
himself  as  to  the  truth  of  the  report.  When  I  met  him  at  the 
enemy's  works,  he  said,  "  Rumsey,  it  is  true;  their  arms  are 
stacked,  and  they  stand  behind  them,"  and  the  look  on  his  face 
showed  a  feeling  far  deeper  than  words  could  express;  seldom 
have  I  seen  a  more  expressive  face  than  his. 

At  the  head  of  our  brigade,  Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  moved 
through  the  works,  and  on  toward  the  River  Fort,  when 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  45 

several  staff  officers  were  sent  to  him  trying  to  halt  him;  one 
with  great  assurance  and  pomp,  rode  up  in  great  haste,  and 
saluting,  stated  that  he  was  from  Gen.  Smith,  who  ordered  him 
to  halt  his  brigade;  Gen.  Wallace  moved  on  with  great  dignity,, 
remarking  to  the  officer,  "  Gen.  Smith  is  not  my  commander," 
and  to  me  he  said,  "I  am  going  to  the  Fort;  I  commenced  this 
battle,  and  it  is  my  right." 

I  need  not  tell  you  that  he  did  go,  and  took  our  battery  with 
him  to  fire  the  salute  from  the  high  and  strong  River  Fort, 
when  the  gun  boats  came  steaming  up  the  river,  firing  their 
salute. 

I  remember  well  at  this  time  his  remark,  his  face,  glowing 
with  satisfaction,  as  we  sat  there  on  our  horses — "Rumsey,  this 
is  glorious;"  to  which  I  replied,  "Yes  General,  but  my  heart 
aches  as  I  think  of  the  many  comrades,  and  true  soldiers  lying 
on  the  field,  who,  forty-eight  hours  ago  were  with  us,"  to 
which  he  replied,  "  Yes,  but  they  died  in  a  noble  cause."  Sor 
all  through  that  dreadful  three  days  battle,  he  showed  his  ten- 
der heart,  and  loyal  soul. 

From  Donelson  to  Savannah,  and  Savannah  to  Shiloh,  he 
showed  the  strong  tenderness  and  attachment  to  his  old  Eleventh 
111.,  and  an  equal  love  and  admiration  for  our  battery.  Only 
a  few  days  before  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  3rd  or  4th,  W. 
H.  L.  Wallace  was  transferred  from  his  pet  brigade  to  the 
command  of  Gen.  "Paducah"  Smith's  division,  taking  with 
him,  as  personal  aide-de-camp,  Capt.  Dickey  and  myself ;  also 
Geo.  Church,  whom  he  admired  very  much — and  who  helped 
in  the  attempt  to  carry  the  General  off  that  field  of  carnage 
after  he  had  received  his  death  wound.  His  division  was 
stationed  in  the  rear,  near  the  landing. 

Saturday,  April  5,  after  talking  the  situation  over,  I,  in 
company  with  my  brother,  of  Battery  A,  rode  around  the  lines, 
that  I  might  know  the  roads  in  case  it  became  necessary  for  us 
to  move  to  the  front.  As  I  came  back  and  reported  the  condi- 
tion of  our  front,  and  the  presence  of  the  enemy  plainly  to  be 
seen  in  the  woods  before  us,  Gen.  Wallace  seemed  to  be  cast- 
down,  and  didn't  rest  well  that  night.  .  Pardon  me,  if  I  diverge 
here,  to  give  a  little  written  history  on  a  subject  upon  which 
so  much  has  been  written;  was  Shiloh  a  surprise? 


46  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

On  that  Saturday's  reconnoissance,  some  of  you  may  re- 
member my  riding  into  the  battery's  camp,  and  telling  you 
what  I  had  seen  of  rebs  outside  our  lines;  soon  after,  I  was  in- 
troduced to  Gen.  Wm.  T.  Sherman,  commanding  your  division 
and  in  front  of  Newhope  church. 

When  I  told  him  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  I  had  seen  in  front 
of  our  picket  lines,  he  replied  ,  "Yes,  yes;  and  they  have  been 
up  and  fired  three  times  on  McDowell,  commanding  our  right 
flank,  but  I  have  got  positive  orders  to  do  nothing  that  will 
have  a  tendency  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  until  Buell 
arrives;  have  you  heard  anything  from  Buell?"  to  which  I  an- 
swered in  the  negative;  "strange,  strange,"  he  said;  "  he  ought 
to  have  been  here  ten  days  ago;"  and  in  his  nervous  manner  he 
pulled  down  his  map  and  showed  the  route  Gen.  Buell  had  to 
march,  repeating,  "  he  ought  to  have  been  here  ten  days  ago." 

Now  comrades,  this  convinces  me,  that  the  enemy's  close 
proximity  to  us  at  Shiloh  was  known,  but  the  generals  hoped 
by  not  provoking  a  general  engagement,  that  we  would  be  re- 
inforced by  Buell  before  a  general  battle. 

On  that  memorable  Sunday  morning,  April  6th,  1862, 
while  we  were  eating  breakfast,  we  heard  you  begin  firing. 
The  division  was  soon  moving  in  column  for  the  front.  We 
took  up  position  between  General  McClernand  on  our  right 
and  Gen'l  Prentiss  on  our  left,  filling  a  gap  which  had  occurred 
by  Gen'ls  Sherman  and  McClernand  falling  back;  soon  we 
were  heavily  engaged;  the  right  of  our  division  was  commanded 
by  Gen.  Sweeney,  he  rode  to  Wallace  and  reported  that  he  had 
broken  the  enemy's  center,  and  wanted  support.  I  rode  to  the 
right  to  find  his  brigade  broken  and  demoralized,  he  having 
acted  without  orders  from  Gen.  Wallace.  By  this  time  Gen. 
McClernand  had  carried  his  left  far  to  the  rear  of  our  right, 
leaving  our  right  entirely  exposed  to  the  enemy.  I  rode  to 
McClernand  and  urged  (and  "more  too")  that  he  move  his 
left  forward,  but  could  not  move  him — we  were  at  right  angles 
with  Gen'ls  Prentiss  and  Hurlbut,  whose  lines  of  battle  faced 
north,  and  Gen'ls  Wallace  and  McClernand  west;  seeing  the 
perilous  condition  of  our  right  I  rode  very  rapidly  to  report  the 
second  time  to  Gen.  Wallace,  our  peril;  as  I  reached  him,  he 
and  Gen.  Prentiss  were  sitting  together,  their  staffs  around 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  47 

them,  watching  the  heavy  fighting  which  was  centered  upon 
Gen.  Hurlbut;  just  then  Gen.  Hurlbut's  division  broke  to  the 
rear;  Gen.  Wallace  spoke  to  Geri.  Prentiss,  then  turned  to  his 
division,  and  as  I  asked  him  what  orders,  he  ordered  the  artil- 
ery  limbered  to  the  rear  and  moved  back  to  Gen.  Hurlbut's  old 
headquarters;  these  are  the  last  words  I  received  from  him. 
Gen.  Wallace  soon  after  received  his  death  wound;  Gen.  Pren- 
tiss was  captured,  and  after  his  exchange  he  told  me  what  Gen. 
Wallace  said  to  him  as  they  separated,  it  was, — "  Prentiss,  you 
wheel  your  division  to  the  right;  I  will  about  face  mine,  and 
we  will  charge  the  enemy  on  their  flank."  This  might  have 
been  practical  if  Gen.  McClernand  had  protected  our  right. 

He  was  cool  and  collected  until  the  last,  displaying  such 
generalship  as  to  attract  the  admiration  of  the  enemy's  generals, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  article  sent  from  the  Confed- 
erates, it  is  called  "  Souvenirs  of  a  Hero." 

SPRINGFIELD,  111.,  June  27. — The  Governor  to-day  received 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Trunno,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  who  would  seem 
to  have  been  an  officer  on  the  staff  of  the  Confederate  General 
and  fighting  Bishop  Polk,  transmitting  a  number  of  letters  from 
the  person  of  Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  the  old  Colonel  of  the 
Eleventh  Illinois,  who  was  killed  at  Shiloh.  Mr.  Trunno  says 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day's  fight  at  Shiloh,  a  Union  offi- 
cer attracted  the  attention  of  Gen.  Polk  by  approaching  very 
near  the  Confederate  lines,  and  endeavoring  to  stop  his  men 
retreating.  The  brave  act  elicited  from  Gen.  Polk  a  desire  to 
know  who  the  officer  was,  and,  as  he  fell,  the  Governor's  cor- 
respondent rode  up  and  took  from  the  body  the  private  papers 
which  he  now  returns,  whereby  the  identity  of  Gen.  Wallace 
was  ascertained.  The  Union  troops  next  day  recovered  the 
battle-ground  and  possession  of  the  body.  Mr.  Trunno  sent 
the  papers  to  his  home,  then  in  South  Carolina,  and  only  lately 
recovered  them.  He  now  wants  Gov.  Cullom  to  send  them  to 
the  relatives  of  the  gallant  officer.  Gen.  Wallace  was  a  son-in- 
law  of  Judge  (then  Col.)  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  of  Chicago,  and  a 
brother  of  Judge  Wallace,  of  Chicago,  and  will  be  remembered 
by  many  Illinois  officers.  Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  died  April 
9th,  from  a  shot  received  April  6th,  which  passed  entirely 
through  his  head ;  his  remains  were  brought  home,  and  now 
lie  buried  in  the  private  ground  at  Ottawa,  111. 

As  he  said  of  those  that  fell  at  Ft.  Donelson,  he  "  died  in  a 
noble  cause,"  but  in  his  fall  the  nation  lost  one  of  its  greatest 
generals,  and  Taylor's  Battery  its  best  friend,  whose  memory 
we  shall  ever  cherish. 


48  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  next  toast  is  "Swamp  Fight — 
Chickasaw  Bayou." 

Response  by  J.  M.  VERNON: 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  AND  COMRADES;  If  you  will  let  me  have 
my  own  way,  (and  you  know  I  always  have  it),  I  will  start 
this  little  story  from  the  25th  of  December,  1862,  when  we 
were  on  the  way  down  the  Mississippi  River,  on  the  steamer 
"  City  of  Memphis."  It  was  Christmas,  this  251!!  day  of  Decem- 
ber, and  all  our  thoughts  ran  back  to  our  kind  friends  at  home. 
I  almost  begrudged  them  their  bountiful  dinner,  for  we  only 
had  hardtack  and  raw  bacon.  I  remember  writing  home  and 
how  they  cried  over  it,  but  I  was  not  to  blame,  I  would  have 
liked  the  turkey,  etc.,  etc.,  just  as  well  as  they,  but  it  wasn't 
there.  But  to  business.  On  the  26th  we  were  on  our  way  up 
the  Yazoo,  and  landed  late  in  the  afternoon.  After  dark  we 
began  to  unload,  and  got  all  through  at  3  A.  M.  of  the  27111. 
The  reason  it  took  us  so  long  was  that  our  wagons,  caissons  and 
gun  carriages  were  most  all  taken  to  pieces  and  put  in  the  hold. 
You  will  remember  battery  "A"  was  on  this  boat  too.  We 
marched  on  this  day,  (27th,)  and  could  hear  heavy  artillery 
firing  on  our  left,  but  we  saw  no  fighting  and  took  no  part  in 
it.  After  dark  we  started  with  Gen.  David  (Burch)  Stuart 
for  a  guide:  got  lost,  and  were  fired  on  by  our  own  men,  who 
took  us  for  rebels.  A  party  was  sent  out  to  see  what  the  trouble 
was,  and  it  was  soon  fixed  up  and  the  firing  stopped.  Then 
we  advanced  again  into  holes,  on  stumps,  and  against  trees,  the 
teams  and  limber  going  between  two  trees  and  the  gun  refusing 
to  follow,  unlimbered,  hauled  the  gun  around,  limbered  up  and 
went  ahead,  only  to  find  ourselves  lost  again.  Scouts  were  sent 
out  and  after  half  an  hour  we  advanced  again,  and  found  what 
was  called  our  brigade,  and  were  put  in  line  of  battle  so  near 
the  rebs  that  you  could  see  them  quite  plainly  at  their  picket 
fires.  I  was  detailed  to  issue  feed  for  the  horses,  and  kept  the 
last  sack  as  it  would  do  for  covering,  and  no  blankets  could  be 
had.  The  ground  was  very  wet  so  I  took  a  small  log  to  sit  on, 
and  another  for  my  legs,  I  was  soon  fast  asleep,  as  it  was  late 
and  there  had  been  hard  marching.  It  rained  all  the  balance 
of  the  night,  but  when  I  retired  there  was  no  water  on  the 
ground.  I  was  called  very  early  in  the  morning — long  befoie 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  49 

daylight — and  when  I  started  to  get  up,  I  thought  of  poor  old 
Rip  Van  Winkle,  I  was  so  stiff  and  sore;  I  put  my  hand  to  the 
ground  to  help,  and  it  went  into  six  inches  of  water.  When  I 
did  get  up,  how  I  did  shake,  and  how  my  teeth  did  chatter.  I 
never  was  so  cold  since  God  made  me.  I  believe  I  should  have 
died  if  I  had  not  found  relief.  I  found  relief.  It  was  hanging  on 
the  limber  in  a  canteen.  I  was  soon  as  well  as  ever.  The  boys 
were  around  shaking  and  chattering.  They  asked  me 
where  I  slept,  I  showed  them,  and  they  asked  how  I  kept  dry, 
I  told  them  I  was  not  dry,  but  found  they  all  were,  and  the 
canteen  was  soon  empty.  I  went  up  to  the  front  and  took  a 
look:  could  see  three  or  four  rebs  around  their  picket  fire. 

I  remember  we  had  a  dog,  a  yellow  and  white  cur,  mangy 
perhaps,  but  with  T.  B.  branded  on  his  hind  quarters.  He  had 
the  respect  and  admiration  of  all  the  division.  The  rebs.  had  a 
dog  with  them;  T.  B.  started  over  to  make  a  call,  perhaps  he 
did  not  have  the  countersign,  perhaps  he  believed  in  whipping 
rebels,  anyway  there  were  some  words  and  a  tearing  of  hair, 
and  T.  B.  came  back  to  them  that  loved  him,  a  whipped  cur. 
Sad  omen  of  what  was  so  soon  to  happen  to  us  all.  I  went 
back  to  the  guns  and  found  everybody  getting  ready  for  the 
fight.  We  had  orders  to  load  with  spherical  case,  and  to  cut 
the  fuse  as  close  as  possible.  Our  men  were  soon  ready  and 
the  fight  began.  If  ever  you  saw  fire  put  out  those  rebs.  did 
it.  In  an  eighth  of  a  second  not  a  spark  could  be  seen  as  all  our 
guns  were  pointed  at  the  picket  fire.  I  hope  the  dog  was  killed 
for  he  was  the  cause  of  all  our  misfortunes.  The  firing  was 
kept  up  some  time  without  any  answer,  but  after  a  while  there 
was  a  flash  that  did  not  look  out  of  range,  and  then  the  shot 
came  tearing  through  the  tops  of  the  trees.  Every  gun  was 
fired  at  the  flash.  Gen.  Stuart  said,  "  I  will  give  the  man  that 
silences  that  gun  five  dollars."  Col.  Malmborg  raised  him  five 
dollars.  The  general  saw  him  and  went  five  better  until  twenty 
dollars  wa-s  offered  to  any  man  that  would  silence  that  gun. 
The  shots  from  the  rebs  came  nearer,  and  at  last  one  struck  in 
the  mud,  sending  mud  all  over  Gen.  S —  — .  Dave — 
got  behind  a  tree  with  his  hands  over  his  eyes  saying,  "  This  is 
dreadful,  this  is  dreadful."  (How  did  I  know?  well,  I  was  be- 


50  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

hind  the  same  tree  and  wanted  him  to  get  away  and  give  me  a 
fair  show.) 

We  fired  a  while  longer  and  as  the  mist  of  the  morning 
cleared  away  we  could  see,  a  mile  and  a  half  or  two  miles  in 
front  of  us,  a  Jong  and  high  line  of  hills,  and  on  these  hills  was 
the  gun  that  made  the  flash.  Our  six  pound  guns  would  not 
reach  half  way  to  it,  so  the  firing  was  stopped  and  the  guns 
moved  back  out  of  musket  range. 

I  have  heard  it  said  that  our  brigade  commander  was  drunk. 
As  privates'  testimony  is  worthless,  and  officers  never  testify 
against  each  other,  I  will  not  testify,  but  I  did  hear  Major 
Hammond,  or  one  of  Gen.  Sherman's  staff,  ask  Gen.  Stuart 
where  his  line  of  battle  was.  He  could  not  tell  him  and  called 
Col.  Smith  of  the  54th  Ohio  and  asked  him.  He  answered, 
"  My  regiment  is  over  there — I  don't  know  where  the  line  is." 
He  (Stuart)  did  not  know  what  battery  he  had  with  him  or 
the  difference  between  a  forge  wagon  and  a  six  pound  gun. 
Still  I  have  seen  it  over  the  signatures  of  colonels,  majors  and 
captains  that  he  was  not  drunk.  Was  Simpson  drunk  with  his 
"  Hurrah  for  Ca'  Hell,"  at  camp  Sherman  ?  Were  the  boys 
drunk  that  took  that  load  of  manure  to  Gen.  Sherman  in 
Memphis?  No!  Well  then  I  will  withdraw  the  remarks 
and  only  say  that  he  was  in  the  same  condition  they  were.  We 
were  relieved  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  moved  back  to 
the  caissons,  and  were  not  in  action  again  that  day. 

I  remember  an  incident  of  our  comrade  Herrick.  John  was 
putting  a  bridle  on  one  of  his  mules  when  the  mule  put  his  foot 
down  on  John's  toes.  John  snatched  a  small  stick  and  let  the 
mule  have  it  between  the  ears.  The  mule  laid  down,  but  soon 
got  up  and  stood  shaking  and  trembling  before  him.  Just  then 
Lieut.  Rumsey  came  along  and  asked  John  what  was  the  mat- 
ter with  the  mule.  He  said  he  did  not  know,  but  he  thought 
he  had  the  blind  staggers.  The  lieutenant,  after  expressing 
much  sympathy  for  the  poor  mule,  asked  John  what  was  good 
for  them.  John  said  he  thought  about  half  a  pint  of  whiskey 
was  as  as  good  as  anything;  so  the  lieutenant  took  John  up  to 
head-quarters  and  got  about  half  a  tin  cup  full  of  whiskey.  He 
took  it  and  walked  over  to  where  the  mule  was,  looked  this 
way  and  that  to  see  if  there  was  any  lieutenant  in  sight,  then  he 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  51 

drank  the  last  drop  and  wiped  off  his  mouth  with  his  coat  sleeve 

looked  at  the  mule  and  said,  "D n   you,  I  have  a  notion  to 

knock  you  down  again."     The  mule  was  soon  better  and  John 
was  no  worse. 

zpth:  I  think  it  was  on  this  day  that  Morgan  L.  Smith  was 
shot,  but  am  not  certain  as  to  the  day.  You  will  all  remember 
that  he  was  wounded,  and  was  never  the  same  freehearted  and 
jovial  general  afterwards.  All  day  of  the  2pth  we  were  firing 
off  and  on  at  the  reinforcements  that  were  being  received  by 
the  rebels.  The  fun  was  all  one  way  until  about  four  in  the 
afternoon,  when  our  old  friend  opened  on  us  from  the  hill. 
The  first  shot  took  the  top  out  of  the  tree  just  over  us,  and  in 
no  time,  I  saw  nine  of  our  boys  behind  one  tree.  "  The  boy ! 
O  where  was  he?"  Well,  I  was  behind  a  much  larger  tree, 
just  to  the  rear.  Our  boys  fired  a  few  more  shots,  but  the  rebs 
got  the  range  too  close,  so  we  ceased  firing  and  were  soon  after 
relieved  by  a  rifle  battery.  On  the  3oth,  you  will  remember 
the  6th  Missouri  volunteered  to  cross  the  Bayou,  and  charge 
the  works,  and  lost  thirty  or  forty  men  in  doing  it.  I  have 
always  thought  that  justice  has  never  been  done  them,  as  it  was 
as  brave  and  heroic  a  charge  as  was  made  during  the  war,  so 
far  as  I  know,  and  few  regiments  would  have  done  it,  and  none 
better  than  the  bloody  6th.  It  rained  all  the  night  of  the  3oth. 
Our  sergeant  (Purinton)  thought  he  would  go  back  to  the 
caisson  and  have  a  good  night's  rest,  so  he  left  his  blankets 
there,  and  after  everything  was  quiet,  started  for  the  caisson 
only  a  few  rods  away.  It  was  so  dark,  a  black  cat  would  look 
white.  He  lost  his  way,  and  after  wandering  about  for  a  long 
time,  found  three  Irishmen  of  the  6th,  who  had  a  very  small, 
smoky  fire.  They  were  telling  such  stories  as  George  ought 
not  to  have  heard,  but  he  went  into  camp  with  them  and  sat  in 
the  smoke  and  rain  all  night,  and  in  the  morning  found  himself 
within  four  rods  of  the  caisson  he  was  looking  for.  He  looked 
like  a  drowned  rat,  was  smoked  as  brown  as  a  Chinaman,  and 
was  as  dirty  as  a  blacksmith.  So  much  for  not  staying  up  at 
the  front.  He  did  not  swear  out  loud,  but  he  was  full  of  cuss 
words  inside. 

On  the  3ist  we  dug  some   breastworks   to    cover  our    left 
flank.       This  was  the  day  that  some  of  the  boys   had   a  truce 


52  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

with  the  rebs  and  traded  knives  and  buttons.  We  were  mus- 
tered for  pay,  and  as  we  were  looking  for  shot  from  the  rebels 
any  minute,  each  man  left  the  ranks  as  soon  as  his  name  was 
called. 

I  know  I  made  up  my  mind  that  if  there  was  ever  another 
war,  and  I  had  as  much  influence  as  I  had  in  this,  I  would  have 
every  muster  roll  commence  with  Z  and  end  with  A,  but  after 
the  roll  was  finished,  and  I  got  behind  the  breastworks  and  my 
back  against  a  log,  four  feet  through,  I  thought  that  if  we  had 
another  war  I  would  stay  at  home.  I  was  down  at  the  land- 
ing in  the  afternoon  and  saw  regiment  after  regiment  go  on 
board  of  the  steam-boats,  and  saw  them  bringing  up  our  siege 
guns,  and  made  up  my  mind  that  we  would  not  stay  much 
longer  where  we  were.  Still  I  was  surprised  when  about 
eight  or  nine  o'clock  at  night,  we  got  orders  to  move  out  as> 
quietly  as  possible.  We  ran  the  limbers  and  guns  back  a  long 
way  by  hand,  and  then  hitched  the  horses  on  and  marched  to 
the  river,  found  our  steamer  and  began  to  load.  I  went  out  to 
the  fire  and  sat  down  with  Dickinson,  Bancroft,  and  a  friend  of 
Bancroft's  from  the  1 3th  Ills.  They  had  a  canteen.  I  was 
there  a  short  time  when  I  got  awful  tired  and  sleepy.  I  don't 
know  whether  it  was  the  Yazoo  water,  the  night  air,  or  what, 
but  I  wanted  rest.  I  helped  carry  some  part  of  a  caisson  and 
wagon  down  into  the  hold ;  there  I  saw  a  pile  of  coal  two  feet 
wide.  I  climbed  on  top  of  it,  and  if  you  will  leave  me  there  to 
pleasant  dreams  I  will  bid  you  good  night.  [Cheers.] 

THE  PRESIDENT:     The  next  regular  toast  is  "The  Work 
we  didn't  Storm — Arkansas  Post." 
Response  by  WALTER  SCATES. 

COMRADES,  I  shall  have  to  beg  your  forbearance  on  this  oc- 
casion, as  I  am  not  prepared  with  anything  to  offer  you. 
Several  days  ago,  while  lying  sick,  I  received  a  communication 
from  friend  Affeld,  stating  that  they  wished  to  hear  from  me 
on  this  occasion,  on  the  subject  of  some  battle  or  march,  and 
wished  me  to  notify  him  of  my  selection.  At  the  time  I  re- 
ceived that  note  I  was  suffering  a  good  deal  of  pain  and  quite 
sick,  but  the  reception  of  that  note  added  very  materially  to  the 
pain  that  I  was  suffering  then,  in  the  form  of  an  old  reminis- 
cence of  camp  life  which  used  to  attack  me  at  times  early  in  the 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  53 

morning  just  after  reveille  had  sounded,  and  the  time  the  boys 
were  getting  out  of  their  bunks  for  roll  call,  I  was  very  fre- 
quently attacked  with  what  they  call  the  "  gripes,"  and  I  had  a 
very  severe  attack  of  it  again,  and  I  felt  like  sending  back  word 
after  friend  Affeld  came,  some  such  remark,  as  I  used  to  hear 
occasionally  down  at  Bird's  Point  while  studying  the  art  of  war, 
the  remark  was  frequently  heard,  "  I  pass,."  If  I  had  not  been 
so  sick,  there  are  a  great  many  reminiscences  of  the  war,  which 
it  would  be  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  go  over,  but  as  regards 
the  work  we  didn't  storm,  I  certainly  didn't  storm  it,  because  I 
had  left  the  Battery  at  Memphis,  just  before  we  went  down 
there,  and  as  I  didn't  storm  this  work  on  that  occasion,  I  would 
have  had  to  occupy  my  time  very  assiduously  in  reading  up, 
and  as  I  cannot  offer  you  anything  original,  I  will  read  a  few 
lines  which  I  found  in  a  paper  the  other  day,  and  sent  them  to 
Affeld,  thinking  they  might  be  of  interest  here,  and  he  request- 
ed me  to  read  them  on  this  occasion. 

THE  SAME  CANTEEN. 

There  are  bonds  of  all  sorts  in  this  world  of  ours, 
Fetters  of  friendship  and  ties  of  flowers, 

And  true  lover's  knots,  I  ween ; 
The  girl  and  the  boy  are  bound  by  a  kiss. 
But  there's  never  a  bond,  old  friend,  like  this — 

We  drunk  from  the  same  canteen! 
It  was  sometimes  water  and  sometimes  milk, 
And  sometimes  apple  jack,  fine  as  silk, 

But  whatever  the  tipple  has  been 
We  shared  it  together,  in  bane  or  bliss, 
And  I  warm  to  you,  friend,  when  I  think  of  this  — 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen ! 
The  rich  and  the  great  sit  down  to  dine, 
And  they  quaff  to  each  other  in  sparkling  wine, 

From  glasses  of  crystal  and  green ; 
But  I  guess  in  their  golden  potations  they  miss 
The  warmth  of  regard  to  be  found  in  this — 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen! 
We  have  shared  our  blanket  and  tent  together, 
And  have  marched  and  fought  in  all  kinds  of  weather, 

And  hungry  and  full  we  have  been, 
Had  days  of  battle  and  days  of  rest, 
But  this  memory  I  cling  to  and  love  the  best — 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen ! 


54  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

For  when  wounded  I  lay  on  the  outer  slope, 
With  my  blood  flowing  fast  and  but  little  hope 

Upon  which  my  faint  spirit  could  lean, 
Oh,  then  I  remember  you  crawled  to  my  side, 
And  bleeding  so  fast  it  seemed  both  must  have  died, 

We  drank  from  the  same  canteen! 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  next  regular  toast  is  "Lake  St. 
George,  Raymond  and  Antimonial  Wine," 

Response  by  C.  W.  PIERCE. 

MR.  PRESIDENT:  Antimonial  Wine?  It  seems  to  me  I 
have  heard  that  name  before.  But  why  am  I  thus  unceri- 
moniously  called  upon  to  respond  to  such  a  peculiar  sentiment? 
Am  I  expected  to  soar  into  the  realms  of  the  Materia  Medica 
and  expound  to  this  learned  audience  the  uses  and  abuses  of  that 
useful  article?  I  patronize  the  Homoeopathic  School,  and  they 
do  not  prescribe  that  remedy.  If  I  was  called  upon  to  dilate 
upon  the  virtues  of  belladonna,  coffea,  aconite,  or  podophyllin, 
I  might  be  able  to  throw  a  little  light  upon  the  subject,  but 
Antimonial  Wine,  completely  lays  me  out.  Now,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, do  you  know  anything  about  Antimonial  Wine? 

Gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements:  Do  you 
know  anything  about  Antimonial  Wine?  Comrades  of  Taylor's 
Battery,  here  assembled:  Do  YOU  know  anything  about  Anti- 
monial Wine  ?  "  If  so,  speak,  or  forever  after  hold  your  peace.'* 

I— am-yuife-sure  that  I  have  heard  of  such  an  article  before; 
a  vision  of  long  ago  seems  to  dimly  pass  before  my  eyes;  I  am 
vaguely  reminded  of  a  little  circumstance — an  adventure — as  it 
were, — a — a — Ah!  !  I  have  it, — like  a  lightning  flash  it  comes 
to  me;  it  was  about — that  size, — so  big, — and — "thereby  hangs 
a  tale." 

It  was  during  the  fall  and  winter  of  '62-3  which  found  tisy 
with  the  balance  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  making 
vain  attempt  after  attempt  to  gain  the  stronghold  of  the  "  Hill 
City  of  the  South  " — Vicksburg.  The  Yazoo  expedition  to 
Haine's  Bluff,  followed  by  our  endeavors, — through  six  long  and 
weary  days  and  nights  of  almost  incessant  rain,  and  mud,  mud,, 
mud  everywhere — to  cross  the  miserable  Chickasaw  Bayou  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy, — proved  a  failure. 

The  Sunflower  expedition,  carried  out  for  the  same  purpose, 


REUNION  OF"  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  55 

failed  also;  during  all  this  time  Butler's  Canal  across  the  neck 
of  land  above  Vicksburg,  was  prosecuted  with  as  much  vigor 
as  the  long  range  gun  of  the  enemy,  on  the  opposite  shore  of 
the  river  would  allow,  with  the  hope  that  high  water  would 
enable  the  gunboats  and  transports  to  pass  through  and  below  the 
rebel  batteries.  During  this  time,  our  Battery  was  encamped 
at  the  head  of  this  canal,  until  the  aforementioned  long  range 
gun  requested  us  to  move,  which  we  proceeded  to  do  without 
any  "  back  talk."  In  due  course  of  time  old  "  Mississip  "  com- 
menced to  rise,  and  it  continued  to  rise,  until  it  became  neces- 
sary to  construct  a  dam  of  sand-bags  at  the  place  where  the 
canal  cut  through  the  levee,  with  the  expectation  that  the  rising 
waters  would  be  held  within  bounds; — vain  expectation — the 
windows  of  Heaven  were  opened,  the  rains  began  to  fall,  the 
"  Father  of  Waters  "  continued  to  rise,  and  between  them  both 
on  one  black  and  stormy  night  a  "  wee  sma' "  hole  was  made, 
thro'  which  the  waters  trickled,  slowly  at  first,  but  with  greater 
increasing  volume  as  the  breach  was  enlarged,  till,  with  a  sud- 
den and  irresistible  rush,  the  whole  structure  gave  way  with  a 
mighty  surge  of  the  boiling  and  seething  torrent; — the  morning 
dawned,  and,  where  the  dam  was  to  be  seen  the  night  before, 
nothing  was  now  left  but  an  immense  hole,  and  a  damsite — 
more  water  pouring  through  it  than  the  whole  army  knew  what 
to  do  with;  we  were  again  requested  to  move,  and  we  obeyed. 
Butler's  scheme  was  dead.  In  due  time  another,  and  a  more  suc- 
cessful scheme  was  put  in  operation;  gunboats  and  transports 
were  put  into  shape  for  defense,  were  manned  by  brave  and 
resolute  men,  and  one  dark  and  starlit  night,  you  all  remember 
how  they  passed  down  the  river,  looking, — in  the  darkness — like 
great  black  mountains,  outlined  against  the  starry  heavens;  how 
we  watched  with  breathless  anxiety  for  the  first  gun  announcing 
their  discovery  by  the  rebel  batteries  at  Vicksburg; — what  a 
thrill  went  through  us  as  the  first  flash  told  that  the  rebels  were 
on  the  alert; — then  another,  and  another  in  quick  succession; — 
then  the  instant  illumination  of  the  heavens  by  immense  heaps 
of  burning  combustible  materials,  till  the  whole  line  of  bluffs 
for  miles  was  one  mass  of  light,  and  a  vast  line  of  roaring  artill- 
ery. Most  of  the  craft  passed  the  trying  ordeal,  though  many  a 
noble  life  was  lost — many  a  brave  and  fearless  volunteer  met 


56  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

his  death,  and  a  watery  grave, — but   the   key  of  the  situation 
was  then  obtained,  and  Vicksburg  was  doomed. 

The  army  was  now  required  to  carry  out  the  program,  but 
the  flood  of  waters  over  the  low  country  was  an  impassable 
barrier.  At  the  end  of  forty  days  a  dove  was  sent  forth  to  sur- 
vey the  situation,  it  returned  without  finding  where  to  rest  its 
\veary  body;  again  it  was  sent  forth, — it  returned  with  an  olive 
branch;  it  was  sent  forth  again,  but  it  returned  not  again,  which 
assured  Uncle  "  Billy  "  that  the  waters  had  abated  from  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  we  started  on  our  tramp  for  the  rear  of 
Vicksburg,  crossed  the  river  at  Grand  Gulf,  slowly  made  our 
way  through  the  "  sunny  South" — where,  I  might  here  remark, 
"Oranges  grow  all  the  year  round," —  and  in  due  time  reached 
Raymond,  Miss. 

You  all  remember  Raymond,  so  I  need  not  dwell  on  the 
beauties  of  that  delightful  spot.  Now,  Ra}  morel  is  no  "great 
shakes"  of  a  place,  anyhow,  Mr.  President,  but  as  I  have  hereto- 
fore remarked,  thereby  hangs  a  tale,  and  a  "  right  smart "  tale 
too.  It  happened,  as  you  all  well  know,  that  there  were  cer- 
tain good  and  well  meaning  boys  in  Taylor's  Battery,  who  were 
extremely  fond  of  a  "  night  cap,"  and  a  day  cap  too,  as  well  as 
their  "  1 1  o'clock  in  the  morning,"  and  at  all  times  of  the  day, 
— when  they  could  get  it;  well,  when  couldn't  they  get  it,  Mr. 
President?  Like  the  waters  which  gushed  from  the  rock  that 
Moses  smote,  a  plentiful  supply  of  "  Mountain  Dew "  was 
always  at  hand,  when  their  voices  were  lifted  up,  like  Hagar's 
in  the  Wilderness.  The  "contraband"  was  to  be  found  in 
divers  shapes — in  the  guise  of  canned  peaches,  two  peaches  and 
a  quart  of  "forty  rod";  brandied  cherries — three  cherries,  and 
the  balance  "dew."  The  "dew"  was  absorbed,  but  the  bal- 
ance— of  cherries — was  discarded;  the  invigorating  blackberry 
cordial — a  pint  of  "  tangle  foot,"  diluted  with  the  juice  of  four 
berries;  and  so  on  ad  libitum,  ad  infinitum.  On  this  special 
occasion,  a  "  baker's  dozen  "  of  good  and  true  soldiers  were 
thirsting  for  "  goah,"  or  any  other  stimulant  that  would  quench 
their  insatiable  thirst.  This  band  of  Sherman's  "bummers" 
was  headed  by  a  stalwart  son  of  Missouri.  His  eagle  eye 
discerned  the  enemy  afar  off,  intrenched  between  the  four  walls 
of  a  modest  country  drug  store;  it  was  but  the  work  of  an  in- 


Ira  Peasley,  Chas.  D.  Dana, 

W.  S.  Stebbins, 

D.  K.  Newell,  H.  F.  Lines, 

Corpl.  W.  T.  Shepherd. 


G.  M.   Willis,  Danl.  Sweeney, 

Frank   Marion, 
Chas.  B.  Andrews,  W.  H.  Sanborn. 


Edwd.  R.  Williamson, 
A.  J.  Grant, 
M-  C.  Ross,  T.   I.  Ashbrook, 


Jno.  Mustard,  Chas.  G.  Siller, 

Jeft'rey  Beck, 
John  Beck,  Qra  McBride. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  57 

stant  for  this  brave  man  to  decide  what  course  to  pursue. 
With  one  long,  loud  and  terrific  yell,  "  Hurrah  for  Cahill!"  the 
fierce  charge  was  made,  a  breach  was  effected,  and  this  noble 
band  confronted  the  enemy.  Bottles  to  the  right  of  them,  bot- 
tles to  the  left  of  them,  bottles  in  front  of  them,  stared  and 
wondered.  The  fierce  gaze  of  that  gallant  leader  met  that  of 
an  unpretentious  "Little  brown  jug,"  bearing  the  legend  in 
letters  of  "  gleaming  gold,"  Antimonial  Wine.  What  cared 
he  of  the  brand  of  wine? — whether  the  Sweet  Angelica,  the 
acidulous  Hock,  the  sparkling  Verzenay,  or  "Ladies'  Wine." 
"His  not  to  reason  why,  his  but  to  do  or  die."  Wine,  wine, 
or  death,  was  the  battle  cry, — and  with  one  fell  swoop  the  jug 
was  seized  and  borne  off  in  triumph  by  those  heroic  men. 
They  retired  in  good  order  from  that  deadly  breach — "all  that 
was  left  of  them,"  and,  upon  reaching  a  secluded  spot,  gave 
thanks,  with  uplifted  hands,  for  their  safe  deliverance.  The 
jug  was  "  drained  to  its  dregs;"  yes,  not  to  its  dregs  alone,  but 
dregs  and  all.  Ominous  smackings  of  lips,  and  rubbings  of 
waistcoats  might  have  been  heard,  and  the  shattered  remnants 
of  that  gallant  squad  retraced  their  steps  to  camp,  where  they 
were  met  with  shouts  and  acclamations  by  their  joyous  com- 
rades. "  We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  he  is  ours!'  cried  the 
leader.  Yes,  and  a  troublesome  enemy  he  proved  to  be,  Mr. 
President;  a  veritable  Tartar.  A  bountiful  supper  awaited 
their  arrival,  prepared  by  the  sable  hands  of  a  dusky  son  of  the 
"  1 5th  Amendment."  The  seductive  "hard  tack"  served  on 
the  richest  of  plated  ware — tin  plated ;  luscious  and  juicy  rash- 
ers of  "  sow  belly,"  served  a  la  Marion,  on  a  chip;  and  rich, 
aromatic  Mocha,  brewed  in  a  gorgeous  sheet  iron  camp  kettle, 
were  chief  among  the  viands  set  before  them,  and  they  were 
invited,  with  one  accord,  to  "  stick  their  legs  under  the  mahog- 
any," and  partake.  Somehow  or  another  these  men  didn't 
seem  to  take  hold  of  those  viands  "  worth  a  cent."  They 
weren't  hankering  for  any  just  then;  they  didn't  appear  to  feel 
hungry.  I  don't  know  why  it  was,  but  there  seemed  to  be  a 
remarkable  oneness  of  feeling  among  them;  a  sort  of  coolness 
had  come  over  these  men,  an  indisposition — so  to  speak — to 
avail  themselves  of  the  hospitalities  tendered  them.  Cassius- 
like,  they  had  a  4<  lean  and  hungry  look,"  but,  Mr.  President, 


58  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

their  looks  belied  their  "  true  inwardness."  One  by  one,  as 
the  summer  roses  fall,  they  hied  them  to  their  several  tentsr 
and,  in  a  short  space  of  time  the  whole  camp  was  thrown  into 
the  utmost  consternation  by  strange  gurgling  sounds,  as  of  the 
"  rush  of  mighty  waters,"  mingled  with  wails  and  groans,  as  of 
those  in  sore  distress,  coming  from  all  quarters  of  the  camp. 
The  Spartan  hero  who  led  that  "  forlorn  hope "  seemed  to 
suffer  the  greatest  agony.  Because  why?  Doubtless,  because 
he  had  the  "  lion's  share  "  of  "Ladies'  Wine."  I  spare  my 
hearers  a  further  recital  of  the  harrowing  details.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  after  throwing  about  24  hours'  rations  to  the  four 
winds  of  heaven,  all  recovered  their  normal  condition,  sadder, 
if  not  wiser  men,  and  it  was  satisfactorily  proven  to  these  mis- 
guided men,  that  it  is  practically  unsafe  to  "  crawl  outside  "  of 
much  antimonial  wine.  MORAL. — Leave  it  in  the  "little  brown 

jug." 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Our  next  toast  is: — "Our  First  Siege,  and' 
a  glorious  Fourth. — Vicksburg. " 

Response  by  C.  E.  AFFELD. 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  AND  GENTLEMEN  : — A  proper  reply  to  the 
sentiment  includes  about  six  months  of  the  history  of  the  war,  or 
about  one-sixth  of  our  time  of  service.  I  will  therefore  not  at- 
tempt more  than  to  recall  some  of  the  many  incidents  of  our 
camp  life  that  are  not  found  in  the  published  histories  and  news- 
paper accounts.  Our  first  efforts  against  Vicksburg  commenced 
at  what  is  known  as  Butler's  canal,  where  we  disembarked  on 
the  22nd  of  January,  '63,  bidding  adieu  to  the 'Chancellor',  which 
had  housed  us  a  week.  I  well  remember  how  glad  we  were  to 
get  on  land  and  into  camp.  How  pleasant  and  cheerful  the 
beautiful  "burg"  looked,  and  how  forbidding  the  forts  and 
breastworks  looked  down  upon  us.  The  work  on  the  canal  was  to 
us  at  all  times  interesting, — because  we  did  not  belong  to  the  de- 
tail,— and  we  enjoyed  the  canoe  and  boat  rides,  and  the  excitement 
occasioned  by  the  steamers  and  gun-boats  arriving;  the  arrival 
of  the  "  Chillicothe,"  "Queen  of  the  West,"  and  other  boats 
memorable  in  history.  I  can  not  help  quoting  from  my  notes 
of  Feb'y  2nd,  when  we  were  awakened  by  the  music  of  the 
Vicksburg  cannon,  occasioned  by  the  ram  "  Queen  of  the  West," 
an  ordinary  transport  guarded  by  cotton  bales,  starting  at  about 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  59 

6  o'clock,  a.  m.,  defiantly  running  the  gauntlet  of  the  entire  for- 
tifications, until  she  came  opposite  the  steamer  "  Vicksburg,"" 
when  she  rounded  to,  ran  into  her  several  times,  and  put  a  shot 
through  her  wheel  house.  There  was  a  lull  as  this  piece  of  aud- 
acity was  being  performed,  the  rebels  thinking  the  boat  was 
coming  to,  but  they  renewed  their  fire  with  increased  energy,  if 
possible,. as  she  passed  swiftly  by  without  ever  noticing  the  many 
salutes  paid  her.  She  subsequently  destroyed  three  steamers 
below  Vicksburg,  and  captured  one  laden  with  sugar  and  mo- 
lasses— a  sweet  termination  of  so  gallant  an  exploit.  While  at 
Young's  Point  we  were  visited  by  many  of  our  friends  from  home, 
and  the  river  communications  being  open  brought  us  many  lux- 
uries. On  the  25th  of  March  the  rams  "  Lancaster  "  and 
"  Switzerland  "  attempted  the  same  feat  so  successfully  per- 
formed by  the  "Queen  of  the  West,"  but  with  quite  different 
results.  The  "Lancaster"  was  blown  up  opposite  the  city,  and 
the  "  Switzerland"  was  so  disabled  that  she  floated  down  stern 
foremost  until  picked  up  by  the  "  Albatross  "  below  the  canal.. 
But  the  crowning  effort  of  blockade  running  was  done  April  i6th, 
preparatory  to  a  movement  on  Vicksburg,  via  Grand  Gulf.  It 
was  necessary  to  have  transports  below  Vicksburg  in  order  to 
cross  to  the  Mississippi  side,  and  all  will  remember  the  night,  as 
at  about  1 1  o'clock,  7  iron-clads,  led  by  Admiral  Porter  in  the 
"  Benton,"  with  three  transports  towing  ten  barges,  succeeded 
in  escaping  damage,  excepting  the  "  Henry  Clay,"  which  was 
burned  and  illuminated  the  whole  river,  as  did  also  the  houses 
set  on  fire  on  the  other  side  in  order  to  see  what  was  passing. 
On  the  22nd,  at  about  IIP.  M.,  another  batch  of  steamers  ran 
the  blockade.  This  was  better  advertised,  and  we  were  out  to 
watch  the  performance.  The  rebels  were  determined  to  sink 
every  boat  if  powder  and  shot  would  do  it,  and  over  500  rounds 
were  said  to  have  been  fired  at  the  steamers  "Tigress,"  "  Empire 
City,"  "Cheesman,"  "Moderator,"  "Horizon,"  and  "Anglo  Sax- 
on," of  which  all  but  the  first  got  through  successfully.  The 
"Tigress"  sank  at  the  other  end  of  the  canal.  On  the  28th  we 
loaded  on  the  "Argonaut,"  to  be  divided  up  the  next  day  for  a 
trip  up  the  Yazoo  in  order  to  make  a  feint  on  Haines'  Bluff,  one 
section  going  on  the  "  Chancellor,"  one  on  the  "  City  Belle,'* 


6)  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

and  one  on  the  "Commercial,"  the  iron-clads  "Choctaw"  and 
"  De  Kalb  "  taking  the  lead.  This  lasted  until  the  2nd  of  May, 
which  brought  us  back  to  Milliken's  Bend,  where  we  only 
stopped  until  the  yth,  when  we  moved  on  towards  Richmond, 
La.,  via  Roundaway  Bayou.  On  the  gth  we  marched  along 
Lake  St.  Jo,  crossed  Douglass  bridge  and  encamped  at  Mrs. 
Ogden's  plantation.  Here  we  saw  the  alligators  sunning  them- 
selves like  turtles,  and  their  bull-like  roar  became  as  familiar  as 
the  music  of  the  frogs.  On  the  loth  we  passed  Bowie's  mansion 
and  cotton  houses,  considered  one  of  the  most  elegant  houses  in 
the  parish;  passed  Gordens,  and  camped  at  Haller  Nutt's  plan- 
tation, about  two  miles  from  Hardtimes  Landing.  It  was  on  the 
way  to  this  place  while  crossing  a  temporary  bridge  over 
Phillip's  bayou,  that  one  of  the  8th  Mo.,  and  one  of  Blair's  head- 
quarters wagons  was  upset,  and  it  was  fun  to  see  the  8th  Mo. 
and  others,  rescue  the  wicker-covered  baskets  and  other  suspic- 
ious packages  for  the  good  there  was  in  them.  We  had  elegant 
beds  made  of  ginned  cotton  at  from  5oc  to  $i  a  pound,  spread 
out  on  the  green  clover  under  a  shading  orchard,  and  a  pictur- 
esque sight  it  was  when  we  left  in  the  morning,  the  ground  being 
covered  with  vegetable  snow  on  a  field  of  green.  On  the  nth 
of  May  we  crossed  over  to  the  Mississippi  side,  at  Grand  Gulf, 
the  chimneys  and  cisterns  being  about  all  that  is  left  of  a  former 
habitation.  On  the  morning  of  the  i2th,  as  we  climbed  the  50 
or  60  ft.  bluffs  that  rise  from  the  river,  we  entered  one  of  the 
finest  groves  it  has  ever  been  our  good  fortune  to  see.  There 
were  magnolias  of  from  75  to  100  feet  in  height,  all  in  full 
bloom,  emitting  a  fragrance  which  is  unequalled  by  anything  we 
had  ever  experienced.  We  also  found  another  species  of  mag- 
nolia, with  its  3  and  4  ft.  leaves  and  immense  white  flowers, 
though  not  as  fragrant  as  the  evergreen  variety.  I  leave  the 
further  description  to  other  hands,  and  commence  on  the  narra- 
tive of  our  movements  towards  Vicksburg.  An  incident  is  well 
worth  recalling  here :  As  we  stood  in  the  road  at  Champion 
Hills,  while  General  A.  J.  Smith  was  near  our  guns,  some  sol- 
diers were  inspecting  the  hives  at  a  house  to  the  right  of  the 
road,  too  closely,  when  there  was  a  hasty  movement  from  the 
house,  and  one  man  was  clawing  his  hair,  with  a  swarm  of  bees 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  6r 

around  his  head,  and  running  with  all  his  might  for  the  pond 
near  by,  into  which,  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  he  plunged 
head  foremost,  to  the  intense  amusement  of  those  in  line.  If 
he  could  have  had  the  liquor  which  the  General  could  not  com- 
fortably carry,  it  would  have  been  a  better  antidote  than  even 
"Antimonial  wine,"  as  I  have  found  out  by  actual  experience 
in  later  years. 

On  the  1 4th  we  passed  the  Mercantile  Battery  at  Auburn 
P.  O.  We  again  heard  of  the  capture  of  Richmond  by  Hooker 
very  circumstantially  reported,  and  there  was  a  feeling  about  this 
time  that  we  were  invincible,  and  were  only  anxious  to  get  at 
them  to  finish  the  business.  With  this  feeling  we  crossed  Black 
River  on  rubber  pontoons,  and  it  was  a  very  picturesque  scene 
as  the  troops  filed  over  the  bridge  by  the  light  of  pitch  pine 
knots  and  camp  fires.  On  the  i8th  our  section  fired  the  first  gun 
at  the  rebel  works  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  commencing  a  siege 
of  a  month  and  a  half,  which  we  expected  to  finish  in  a  day  or 
two.  I  will  not  endeavor  to  describe  the  charge  on  the  igth  of 
May.  Suffice  it  to  say  it  did  not  succeed,  though  the  colors  of 
some  of  the  regiments  were  actually  on  the  enemy's  breastworks, 
it  was  impossible  to  get  over  in  any  force,  and  they  had  to  be 
withdrawn  under  the  friendly  cover  of  darkness.  On  the  2oth 
we  were  still  in  position  on  the  right  of  the  main  road.  It  was  a 
disastrous  day  to  us,  as  we  had  to  mourn  the  death  of  a  brave 
and  intelligent  young  member  of  Squad  6,  D.  K.  Newell,  who 
was  thumbing  the  vent — in  the  place  of  C.  W.  Pierce,  who  was 
detailed  at  the  caisson — as  the  messenger  of  death  sped  through 
the  embrasure  and  struck  him  on  the  top  of  the  head,  passing 
through,  as  his  head  was  bowed  to  keep  below  the  embrasure. 
Dan  Young  was  wounded  on  Squad  2  gun  also.  On  the  22nd 
we  were  in  position  pretty  well  protected  by  our  earth  works, 
provided  we  did  not  show  ourselves  above  them.  The  memor- 
able charge  of  the  22nd  had  been  made  and  failed  again,  with  a 
large  sacrifice  of  life.  We  were  firing  along  the  whole  line,  and 
the  guns  were  getting  warm  so  that  we  had  to  wet  the  sponges. 
It  was  about  5  P.M.,  and  we  had  been  discussing  the  absolute 
necessity  of  keeping  out  of  sight,  and  loading  in  the  smoke  of 
the  guns,  when  Fred  Thompson,  who  had  taken  Newell' s  place 


62  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

as  No.  3  on  the  gun,  was  thumbing  the  vent,  the  foreordained 
bullet  struck  him  through  the  heart,  and  he  fell  backwards  in  the 
arms  of  his  comrades,  a  sacrifice  to  useless  display  of  bravery, 
as  he  considered  it  cowardly  not  to  stand  up  straight  while  on 
<luty.  He  was  one  of  our  most  reliable  and  thorough  soldiers, 
-always  on  hand  when  wanted,  and  when  danger  was  near,  and 
had  been  in  the  English  army  during  the  Crimean  war.  The 
26th  brought  another  sacrifice  in  the  person  of  Henry  Henrotin, 
one  of  our  original  members  of  1861.  He  was  a  young  man, 
and  was  struck  while  accidentally  raising  his  head  above  the 
level  of  the  breastworks.  Battery  "A,"  on  our  right  was  called 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  George  Whittier,  one  of  its  brightest  young 
men,  a  sacrifice  to  the  deadly  aim  and  accuracy  of  the  rebel 
sharpshooters. 

After  these  unsuccessful  attempts  to  storm  the  works,  it  was 
decided  that  pick  and  shovel  had  to  assist  in  reducing  them, 
and  I  doubt  whether  the  history  of  the  war  will  show  a  more 
elaborate  system  of  saps  and  mines,  than  those  of  the  Union 
army  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.  It  kept  the  soldiers  in  good 
health,  and  kept  them  busy  during  the  day,  cutting  cane  and 
limbs  to  back  and  strengthen  the  earth  works  at  night.  But  we 
were  not  allowed  to  take  part  in  this  work  long. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  at  8  P.  M.,  we  let  our  guns  down  the 
side  of  the  hill  with  prolongs,  and  by  10  o'clock  turned  our  backs 
on  Vicksburg  and  moved  out  on  the  Chickasaw  road  and  bivouack- 
ed 4  miles  from  Snyder's  Bluff,  and  at  4  A.  M.  the  next  morning 
we  were  on  the  move  with  General  Blair  in  command  of  the 
expedition,  consisting  of  3  brigades  from  Sherman's  and  3  from 
McPherson's  corps.  The  march  up  the  valley,  between  the 
Yazoo  and  Big  Black,  will  linger  long  in  the  memories  of  the 
participants,  and  Nellis',  Harris',  Heart's,  Parti e's,  and  Roache's 
plantations  have  all  contributed  their  share  to  the  comfort  of 
the  soldiers.  Besides  veal,  mutton,  poultry,  and  beef,  that  these 
generous  planters  contributed,  we  had  milk  and  honey,  and  the 
woods  provided  mulberries,  plums  and  blackberries  in  profusion. 
This  rich  bottom  was  luxuriant  with  corn,  which  the  necessities 
of  the  war  had  compelled  them  to  plant,  and  our  horses  reveled 
in  a  superfluity  of  fodder.  After  arriving  at  Mechanicsburg, — 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  63 

22  miles  from  Yazoo  City — we  returned  partly  by  the  road  we 
came,  camping  on  the  3151  near  Haines'  Bluff,  on  the  Yazoo, 
having  accomplished  little  more  than  draining  the  country  of 
cattle,  negroes  and  mules,  and  destroying  cotton  and  cotton 
gins,  and  such  other  things  as  might  prove  of  comfort  or  shelter 
to  the  enemy.  After  a  rest  of  a  day  or  two  we  received  orders 
to  go  with  General  Mower's  command,  consisting  of  one  brigade, 
viz:  8th  Wis.,  nth  Mo.,  47th  111.,  and  5th  Minn.,  and  cavalry, 
on  another  expedition,  and  by  12  p.  M.  of  the  3rd  of  June,  we 
were  on  board  the  "  L.  M.  Kennett, "  with  the  "Madison"  and 
"Sam  Young"  following  the  "mosquito"  gun  boats  up  the  Yazoo,  on 
our  way  to  Satartia.  It  was  our  first  trip  up  the  smaller  rivers 
since  Donelson,  and  the  overhanging  moss  and  tropical  fcliage, 
cultivated  fields  and  glimpses  of  a  plantation  through  the  woods, 
made  a  most  enchanting  scene,  the  enjoyment  of  which  was 
somewhat  marred,  after  passing  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Sun 
Flower,  by  the  narrowness  of  the  stream,  when  the  branches  of 
the  trees  would  bend  from  our  smoke,  stacks  and  sweep  the 
decks,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  we  could  not  turn 
around  even  though  it  were  desirable  to  do  so.  The  booming 
of  cannon  in  the  distance,  and  the  occasional  musket  shot,  made 
us  anxious  to  get  to  our  landing,  which  we  reached  at  8  A.  M.  on 
the  4th,  and  moved  on  to  Mechariicsburg,  about  3^  miles  from 
the  river.  About  two  miles  from  the  town  we  came  upon  the 
enemy,  fired  a  few  rounds  from  one  of  our  guns,  and  then  moved 
on  the  town.  We  took  position  in  the  road,  fired  about  ten 
rounds  apiece,  and  then  the  cavalry  and  infantry  followed  them 
up.  We  saw  nothing  of  them  but  the  dust  they  made  while  re- 
treating. Here  we  met  General  Kimball's  2nd  brigade,  consist- 
ing of  43-61-106  111.,  i2th  Mich.,  4oth  Iowa,  and  37th  Wis. 
At  this  place  many  of  you  will  recollect  the  novel  sight  of  a  man  sit- 
ting astride  of  a  rail,  carried  by  his  comrades,  with  a  string  in  his 
mouth,  attached  to  a  board  hanging  on  his  back,  marked 
"Coward."  His  comrades  of  the  nth  Mo.  found  him  at  the 
landing,  and  thus  summarily  punished  him  for  running  away. 
He  must  have  been  a  coward  or  an  idiot  not  to  have  resented 
such  indignity. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  after  standing  in  line  and  harnessed 


64  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

up  all  night,  we  moved  out  at  about  10  A.  M.  on  our  return. 
It  was  an  excessively  hot  day,  and  as  many  of  those  in  the  lead 
had  not  marched  much  in  this  climate,  the  jackets,  overcoats 
and  surplus  baggage,  began  to  line  the  road :  The  baggage 
wagons  and  ambulances  were  filled  with  exhausted  men,  and  the 
surgeons  were  administering  to  sick  and  sun-stricken  soldiers 
under  every  tree  by  the  roadside,  and  it  is  a  mystery  to  this  day 
why  we  were  marched  as  if  life  or  death  depended  on  our  get- 
ting back.  We  camped  12  miles  from  Haines'  Bluff,  but  were 
awakened  at  2  A.  M.  so  as  not  to  march  in  the  heat  of  the  day, 
though  we  did  not  get  under  way  until  6  A.  M.  The  cavalry  was 
busy  with  skirmishers  in  the  rear,  and  we  reached  Haines'  Bluff 
Sunday  the  7th  of  June,  after  one  of  the  most  exhausting  and  ill 
managed  marches  we  were  ever  on.  The  beautiful  cistern  on 
Roache's  plantation,  covered  by  a  large  roof,  and  containing  a 
yawl  boat,  will  be  remembered  for  its  size  and  refreshing  shelter, 
on  this  excessively  hot  and  sultry  day.  We  were  getting  ready 
to  make  ourselves  comfortable,  when  we  heard  of  an  attack  on 
Milliken's  Bend,  and  that  "  the  colored  troops  fought  nobly," 
nevertheless,  on  the  evening  of  the  ninth,  we  were  ordered  to 
load  on  board  the  steamer  "Black  Hawk"  for  Young's  Point,  where 
we  landed  on  the  morning  of  the  loth  at  2  A.  M.  Hauling  the 
guns  up  the  steep  bank,  and  getting  them  into  position  on  the 
levee  was  the  work  of  the  morning,  and  when  completed  we  en- 
joyed our  breakfast  in  a  pouring  rain.  A  squad  of  12  or  15  de- 
serters from  Vicksburg,  were  sent  here  to  stay  with  the  130  pris- 
oners camped  near  by,  and  kept  the  camp  supplied  with  rumors 
for  the  balance  of  the  week.  There  were  many  visitors  down 
this  way  about  this  time.  The  Newells  were  looking  after  the 
remains  of  their  lamented  brother,  and  relatives  of  the  soldiers 
from  Chicago  were  always  welcome  guests  in  our  camp.  We  all 
remember  the  visit  of  a  party  from  this  city,  among  which  was 
Frank  Lumbard,  and  of  his  singing  patriotic  songs  in  the  evening, 
within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  rebel  works,  and  the  cheering  from 
both  sides  along  the  line;  these  incidents  all  helped  to  keep  our 
minds  occupied  when  the  guerillas  or  rebel  cavalry  would  let  us 
rest,  but  owing  to  the  annoying  raids  from  the  direction  of  Rich- 
mond, La.,  it  was  decided  to  take  the  place,  and  so  we  got  ready 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  65 

early  Sunday  morning,  June  i4th,  to  move  down  river  with 
Mower's  Brigade,  and  about  120  of  the  xoth  Illinois  cavalry. 
While  waiting  to  start,  about  12  steamers  came  down  the  river 
with  General  Burnside's  Corps,  and  it  seemed  odd  to  hear  of 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  regiments  in  the 
western  army.  All  the  boats  passed  to  the  lower  landing.  We 
kept  on  the  levee  to  Duckport,  where  the  canal  had  been  dug, 
and  there  we  met  the  dredge  Hercules,  and  a  Y*  mile  farther  on, 
at  Mason's  plantation,  the  dredge  Louisville,  where  they  had 
worked  their  way  in  high  water  and  were  now  high  and  dry,  about 
30  feet  above  the  river  in  the  timber,  with  the  channel  partially 
filled  and  overgrown  with  weeds;  a  mystery  and  a  surprise  to  us 
all,  they  were  familiar  and  busy  objects  in  the  early  spring.  At 
5  P.  M.  we  reached  Mrs.  Ames'  plantation,  a  large  brown  mansion 
with  store  houses  and  negro  quarters,  all  having  been  recently 
occupied  and  hastily  abandoned.  When  I  think  of  the  widow 
Ames,  it  seem  as  if  I  knew  the  good  lady  and  her  interesting 
family.  As  her  well  selected  library  furnished  Shakespear,  Irving^ 
Cowper,  Dickens  and  other  standard  works,  and  her  china  and 
silverware  were  cherished  as  mementoes  to  the  close  of  the  war; 
her  name  became  as  familiar  in  camp  as  household  words. 

On  the  1 5th,  about  %  mile  from  Richmond,  we  formed  in 
line  with  General  Elliott's  marine  brigade;  we  had  a  clear  view 
and  could  see  the  enemy  getting  a  battery  into  position ;  we  had 
a  pretty  fight  and  had  advanced  3  times  until  reaching  Bushy 
bayou,  over  which  the  bridge  was  burning.  The  cavalry  and  in- 
fantry followed;  from  the  wounded  left  in  the  town,  we  learned 
they  had  2  brigades.  (7  regiments)  and  4  pieces  of  artillery,  in 
all  about  2,500  men — our  forces. must  have  been  3, 200  in  all.  We 
had  a  dinner  of  the  best  the  town  afforded  and  after  destroying 
Richmond  so  that  it  would  afford  no  shelter  or  sustenance  to  the 
enemy,  we  started  back  to  Young's  Point,  having  successfully 
captured  Richmond  the  first  time  trying — I  must  not  forget  to 
mention  that  this  was  the  first  engagement  of  Captain  Rumsey, 
whose  promotion  was  formally  announced  on  Saturday,  June  2oth, 
at  roll  call. 

On  the  23rd  of  June  the'  Battery  moved    down    to    the    lower 
landing  or  near  the  Butler  Canal,  and  an  hour   before   dusk,  two 


66  REUNION  OK  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

guns  o/  the  left  section  were  sent  with  a  detail  of  infantry,  to  what 
was  known  as  De  Soto  Point,  directly  opposite  the  city  of  Vicks- 
burg.  A  place  was  made  for  our  guns  in  the  levee,  about  500 
yards  to  the  right  of  a  20  pound  Parrott  and  a  Dahlgren  gun  in 
charge  of  the  Marine  Brigade.  All  those  who  had  the  opportun- 
ity of  visiting  the  point,  will  appreciate  the  uncomfortable  posi- 
tion of  those  who  had  to  be  with  the  guns.  We  were  directly 
opposite  the  Prentiss  House,  whose  sign  could  be  distinctly  read, 
and  a  mill  that  was  grinding  corn,  was  an  object  of  attention  to 
the  Parrott  gun  to  our  left;  about  ^  mile  up  the  river  were  the 
mortar  boats,  dropping  their  shells  every  now  and  then  into  the 
town,  and  beyond  them  was  a  hundred  pound  Parrot  gun,  occasion- 
ally taking  a  shot  at  one  of  the  guns  in  the  fort  when  they  got 
too  lively.  We  had  to  dig  a  pit  near  our  guns,  in  which  we 
could  jump  when  we  saw  the  smoke  of  the  enemy's  guns,  which 
gave  us  some  little  time  to  hunt  our  holes  before  the  shot  would 
strike.  They  were  full  of  toads,  and  when  we  jumped  in  they 
would  jump  out.  It  had  been  rumored  that  the  enemy  was  try- 
ing to  cross  the  river  in  skiffs,  and  that  was  the  occasion  of  our 
being  ordered  there  with  some  infantry  as  support. 

The  Parrott  gun  on  our  left  commenced  firing  the  next  morn- 
ing on  the  mill,  and  the  forts  would  answer  from  a  half  dozen 
places,  throwing  ring  grape,  cannister,  24  and  32  pound  solid 
shot,  7  and  8  inch  rifled  shot  and  shell  all  around  us,  but  without 
much  damage.  Here,  if  anywhere,  the  saying  that  it  takes  tons 
of  lead  to  kill  an  artillery  man,  was  verified,  as  there  was  but  one 
man  killed  in  all  our  stay,  though  the  casemate  of  the  guns  to  our 
right  were  plowed  into  several  times;  I  must  say  that  our  greatest 
and  most  annoying  enemy,  were  the  mosquitoes. 

All  the  changes  and  movements  of  troops  were  made  after 
dusk,  as  we  were  close  enough  to  be  annoyed  occasionally  by  a 
long  range  rifle.  Our  infantry,  by  a  well  directed  shot,  often 
made  the  mules  step  around  lively  that  came  down  to  the  levee 
to  water.  We  did  no  cooking  and  our  breastworks  were  covered 
with  brush,  so  that  the  number  and  exact  position  of  our  guns 
should  not  be  known.  On  the  25th  of  June  many  of  us  visited 
the  mortar  boats  which  kept  up  an  incessant  fire  at  from  10  to  15 
minute  intervals. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  67 

The  100  pound  Parrott  gun  on  a  scow  above  the  mortar  boats, 
kept  up  a  healthy  excitement  across  the  river,  and  when  it  fired, 
we  would  run  to  the  levee  to  see  the  shot  strike.  It  seemed  to 
do  the  most  execution  in  the  blocks  behind  the  Prentiss  House, 
and  seemed  to  do  more  harm  than  all  the  mortars  put  together. 
We  heard  that  the  "Arizona"  came  up  from  New  Orleans,  bringing 
the  news  of  the  taking  of  Port  Hudson.  After  supper  we  amused 
ourselves  by  asking  and  answering  questions  of  the  rebs;  we 
could  hear  them  plainly  across  the  water;  also  the  ringing  of  the 
Court  House  bell  at  9  P.  M.  The  Dahlgren  gun  to  our  left  re- 
ceived a  shot,  bringing  down  the  casemate,  made  of  R.  R.  iron, 
but  no  one  was  seriously  hurt.  You  will  doubtless  remember 
that  we  had  a  great  many  sick  about  that  time,  and  Captain 
Rumsey  was  the  only  commissioned  officer  on  duty,  and  it  was 
difficult  to  find  well  men  enough  to  relieve  the  section  at  the 
Point,  every  two  days;  the  20  pound  Parrott  gun  had  succeeded 
on  the  28th  in  stopping  the  usefulness  of  J.  M.  Paxton's  mill,  as  no 
smoke  came  from  its  chimneys.  The  batteries  kept  up  a  lively 
fire,  directed  mostly  towards  the  guns  above  us  and  the  regiment 
below  us.  We  can  also  tell  when  the  firing  is  lively  in  the  rear 
of  Vicksburg,  as  it  can  be  distinctly  heard,  and  it  is  said  that  in 
a  charge  made  on  the  27th,  part  of  the  stockade  and  breastworks 
were  taken,  but  it  was  not  policy  to  hold  them.  We  notice  that 
the  friction  primers  of  the  enemy  must  be  poor,  as  they  waste 
from  5  to  15  before  the  gun  goes  off. 

On  the  3oth,  Lieut.  Whittle  came  to  the  Point  to  see  the 
town.  It  is  rumored  that  McPherson  and  part  of  Ord's  and 
Sherman's  commands  are  to  make  an  attack.  We  are  having 
delightful  moonlight  chats  with  the  rebs  after  dark.  It  is  July 
3rd,  and  the  days  are  getting  fearfully  hot,  and  there  is  not 
much  change  from  the  monotony  of  camp  life.  We  had  heard 
the  discouraging  news  from  the  East,  and  that  General  Lee  was 
in  Pennsylvania.  Rumor  has  it  that  General  Meade  supersedes 
General  Hooker. 

The  centre  section  relieved  the  right  at  the  Point  to-night. 
We  received  orders  to  harness,  and  there  is  a  rumor  of  a  grand 
attack  on  the  enemy  to-morrow,  and  we  are  to  be  prepared 
should  they  attempt  to  cross  the  river. 


68  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

On  Saturday,  July  4th,  at  about  8  A.  M.,  Lieut.  Clifford  Stick- 
ney,  of  the  signal  corps,  stopped  to  inform  us  that  Vicksburg 
had  surrendered,  and  would  be  in  our  possession  at  IDA.  M.  He 
informed  us  that  at  4  P.  M.  yesterday,  orders  came  to  cease  firing; 
that  the  rebs  had  asked  for  an  armistice  till  10  A.  M.,  at  which 
time  they  would  surrender  on  condition  that  the  officers  be  al- 
lowed their  side-arms,  and  the  prisoners  be  paroled  in  Yicks- 
burg.  Everything  seemed  to  confirm  this  piece  of  news.  The 
expected  attack  on  the  4th  was  not  made,  and  our  boys  of  the 
centre  section  reported  that  wagon  loads  of  ammunition  were 
being  thrown  in  the  river,  and  the  big  shot  rolled  down  the  hill. 
I  have  among  my  notes,  that  we  celebrated  the  day  with  a  good 
dinner,  ending  up  with  a  corn-starch  pudding — one  of  Pierce's 
best  efforts.  At  about  noon  the  fleet  fired  a  salute  in  honor  of 
the  day.  The  salute  that  was  fired  did  not  sound  as  if  fired  by 
very  heavy  guns,  considering  it  is  the  Fourth,  and  that  Vicks- 
burg has  been  taken.  It  would  have  been  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  with  the  means  we  had  at  hand  for  a  jollification  and  dem- 
onstration, more  powder  would  have  been  consumed.  We 
account  for  it  by  supposing  Johnson  is  ignorant  of  the  surrender, 
and  that  Grant  will  immediately  fall  on  him  with  his  whole  force 
and  demoralize  him  if  possible. 

So  you  see  how  the  news  that  electrified  the  whole  north, 
and  set  the  loyal  homes  ablaze  with  illumination,  and  made  the 
entire  country  wild  with  joy,  was  celebrated  at  the  seat  of  war. 
I  think,  now,  gentlemen,  that  I  have  taxed  your  patience  long 
enough.  I  will  not  describe  the  number  of  prisoners,  guns, 
and  ordnance  stores  captured.  These  are  accessible  to  you  and 
everybody,  but  our  doings  and  our  part  in  the  great  drama  are 
sacred  to  the  old  comrades  and  their  families  only,  and  it  takes 
occasions  like  these  to  bring  from  their  seclusion  the  impressions 
of  youth  stamped  on  the  memory  by  the  iron  hand  of  war. 

The  impression  made  on  many  of  us  by  seeing  so  many 
prisoners,  in  such  lamentable  condition,  was  one  of  mystery  that 
they  should  so  bravely  suffer  while  they  had  so  indefinite  an  idea 
of  the  object  to  be  attained,  but  the  ignorance  of  the  rank  and 
file,  and  the  fact  that  they  were  defending  homes  more  than 
country,  no  doubt  will  account  for  their  sacrifice,  which  I  can- 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  69 

not  help  thinking  was  greater  than  ours  on  account  of  its  utter 
hopelessness. 

THE  PRESIDENT. — The  next  toast  is  "  Mission  Ridge  and 
Knoxville  March."  F.  O.Affeld  and  Charles  Turner. 

C.E.  AFFELD. — I  will  read  my  brother's  reply,  which  he  sends 
to  me,  to  the  dispatch,  which  Mr.  Rumsey  telegraphed,  in  re- 
sponse to  the  sentiment. 

NEW  YORK,   February  10,  1880. 
MY  DEAR  COMRADES: 

As  the  incidents  of  the  eventful  and  terribly  exciting  days  of  the  I3th,  I4th 
and  especially  the  isth  of  February,  1862,  pass  in  review  before  me,  the  faces 
of  those  with  whom  it  was  my  privilege  to  act  in  concert  naturally  turn  up  as 
the  most  prominent  and  interesting:  and  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  assure  you 
that  nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  greet  them  one  and  all  to- 
night. But  as  that  may  not  be.  may  I  in  imagination  join  you  all  on  the  hard 
frozen  and  snow  covered  hill  (where  we  took  our  position  just  18  years  ago 
to-night),  in  a  quart  mug  full  of  black  but  exhilarating  coffee,  before  turning 
in  for  the  night.  Few  of  us  realized  until  the  next  morning,  and  still  fewer 
cared,  that  the  angel  of  death  was  hovering  over  us  in  the  form  of  round  shot, 
bomb,  and  bullets,  we  crawled  under  our  tarpaulins,  drawn  over  gun  and 
brush,  and  slept  soundly  until  the  enemies'  morning  guns  exploded  their  shells 
about  our  heads,  not  figuratively  but  literally,  for  the  tree  by  which  we  had 
lain  all  night  was  partially  cut  down  by  a  solid  shot,  and  McAllister's  24  pound 
howitzer  was  disabled  before  our  eyes.  It  would  however  be  presumptious  in 
me  to  occupy  the  few  happy  hours  of  your  reunion  with  incidents  of  the  last 
day's  fight;  the  desperate  attempt  of  the  "Johnnies"  to  force  their  way  through 
our  lines;  the  hasty  retreat  where  batteries  right  and  left  of  us  left  their  guns 
and  scampered  off  with  their  horses;  the  awful  moments  when  our  gun  team 
became  entangled  in  traces  and  brush,  so  as  to  require  unhitching  before  they 
could  be  gotten  up;  how  infantry  and  artillery  men  without  guns  rushed  by 
regardless  of  who  might  take  the  hindermost;  how  squad  five  bravely  went 
into  position  on  the  hill  above  us,  to  protect  us.  and  how  finally,  (in  spite  of 
Major  Schwarz  to  the  contrary)  we  got  our  horses  up,  and  joined  the  retreat  to 
the  new  line  of  battle  where  we  awaited  and  gloriously  repulsed  the  'charge. 
All  these  incidents  can  be  better  recited  by  others  among  you  than  by  me. 

I  will  therefore  conclude  with  the  hope  that  at  this  evening's  roll  call  you 
will  be  able  to  muster  a  full  battery,  and  will  enjoy  your  reunion  as  heartily 
as  we  enjoyed  the  tidings  of  the  surrender  the  next  morning,  when  we  expected 
to  be  led  to  the  front  again. 

Cordially  your  comrade,  F.  O.   AFFELD. 

To  Messrs.  B.  F.  McCarthy,   I.  P.  Rumsey,  ) 

>-  Executive  Committee, 
II.  W.  Dudley,  J.  M.  Vernon,  C.  E.  Aft'eld,  \  Chicago,  111. 


70  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

MR.  CHARLES  TURNER  :  I  received  a  very  short  notice,  I 
believe  this  morning  I  was  requested  to  respond  to  this  senti- 
ment, and  Mr.  Chairman  and  fellow  comrades,  I  will  merely  re- 
fresh your  memories  in  regard  to  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge, 
and  our  trip  to  Knoxville.  No  doubt  it  is  impressed  on  your 
minds,  as  it  is  on  mine,  that  that  battle  was  one  of  the  best  that 
we  encountered,  inasmuch  as  we  were  not  participating  in  it  as 
fighters,  but  only  as  spectators.  We  pushed  rather  fast  for  two 
or  three  days,  and  then  we  were  ordered  to  General  Burnside  at 
Knoxville.  We  travelled,  if  you  remember,  very  rapidly  so  as  to 
achieve  the  object  on  which  we  were  bent,  and  when  we  arrived 
at  Marysville,  about  fifteen  or  eighteen  miles  from  Knoxville,  we 
then  learned  that  the  siege  was  raised  and  General  Long- 
street  had  retreated  into  Virginia;  we  were  then  ordered  to  re- 
turn after  a  day  or  two,  and  came  back  through  another 
section  of  East  Tennessee.  I  remember  that  as  a  beautiful 
country,  and  I  believe  that  section  was  about  as  pretty  as  we 
have  seen  anywhere,  and  if  you  remember,  we  lived  highly  on 
that  trip  back,  so  much  so  that  we  might  call  it  a  feast  nearly  all 
the  way,  but  we  were  very  much  short  of  provisions  when  we  got 
within  fifty  miles  of  Chattanooga;  so  much  so,  that  the  horses 
and  mules  ate  their  own  tails  and  manes  and  the  overcoats  be- 
longing to  the  men,  and  when  we  arrived  at  Larkinsville  we  were 
in  a  rather  dilapidated  condition.  I  think  we  spent  Christmas 
between  Chattanooga  and  our  resting  place  for  the  winter,  Lark- 
insville, Alabama,  and  I  believe  we  were  short  of  rations,  and 
the  dinner  which  I  ate  that  day,  I  shall  never  forget,  it  being 
Christmas  day.  We  generally  have  a  feast  at  home,  but  my 
dinner  was  three  potatoes  and  two  ears  of  corn;  that  is  all  the 
dinner  we  had  that  day;  but  after  a  while  we  were  well  supplied 
with  provisions,  and  we  wintered  at  Larkinsville,  and  there  we 
had  a  good  rest.  This  is  all  I  wish  to  say,  gentlemen,  in  regard 
to  Mission  Ridge  and  Knoxville. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  I  will  say  to  you,  gentlemen,  that  I  had  the 
responsibility  of  issuing  the  order  to  Battery  B  on  this  occasion 
to  go  to  Knoxville  to  relieve  Burnside.  It  read  like  this:  "Two 
days  cooked  rations  to  last  six."  Well,  we  were  gone  a  month 
and  we  didn't  get  any  more  rations  all  the  way,  so  it  must  have 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  71 

been  good  to  them  to  get  into  the  corn  country,  but  what  about 
the  turkeys  and  geese?  The  boys  used  to  come  loaded  into 
headquarters.  Did  we  want  anything  to  eat,  and  we  couldn't 
find  anything,  we  said:  wait  until  Battery  B  comes  into 
camp,  then  they  will  have  some  turkeys  and  geese  hanging 
across  their  saddles,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  you  know.  Excuse 
me  for  this  interruption  and  I  will  give  you  the  next  toast. 
"Resaca,"  C.  J.  SAUTER. 
MR.  PRESIDENT  AND  COMRADES  : 

After  passing  our  winter  months  between  Larkinsville  and 
the  Landing,  everything  was  got  in  readiness  by  the  latter  part 
of  April  for  the  active  campaign,  and  on  Sunday.  May  ist,  we 
broke  camp,  moving  toward  the  front,  leaving  the  left  section 
behind  us  at  the  landing,  (where  they  had  gone  to  man  the 
guns  of  the  centre  section,  when  it  was  broken  up)  with  the 
understanding  that  they  were  to  follow  us  when  relieved.  Our 
march  lay  through  Belle  Fonte,  Scottsboro,  Stephenson,  by 
Nick  a  Jack  cave,  Falling  Waters,  Whitesides,  and  through 
Lookout  Valley,  around  Lookout  Mountain,  through  Rossville, 
camping  the  night  of  May  6th  at  Lee  &  Gordon's  mills.  On 
Saturday  we  moved  toward  Gordon's  Gap,  of  Taylor's  Range, 
camping  for  the  night  about  three  miles  from  the  Gap.  Sunday 
we  passed  through  Gordon's  Gap,  and  that  night  went  into  posi- 
tion about  three  miles  from  Snake  Creek  Gap;  the  first  skirmish- 
ing in  our  front  having  been  done  by  the  i6th  Corps  during  the 
day.  Monday  .morning  the  movement  through  Snake  Creek 
Gap  began;  skirmishing  commenced  early  and  continued  nearly 
all  day.  It  took  us  nearly  all  day  to  get  through  the  gap,  there 
being  only  a  single  narrow  road  and  the  gap  about  8  miles  long; 
night  found  us  about  5  miles  from  Resaca  and  15  miles  from 
Dalton,  between  the  two  places.  We  took  position  covering 
the  Dalton  Road,  heard  considerable  firing  to  our  left,  indicat- 
ing that  the  enemy  had  been  found  in  force  and  that  the  memor- 
orable  Atlanta  Campaign  had  commenced  in  earnest.  On 
Tuesday,  the  loth  of  May,  our  corps  took  the  advance  with  our 
division  leading;  skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  day,  although  no 
general  engagement  was  forced.  This  afternoon  the  left  section 
and  balance  of  our  division  came  up,  having  left  the  landing  four 


72  REUNION  OK  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

days  after  we  left   Larkinsville,  and   making  forced  marches  to 
catch  up.     We  were  all  glad  to  see  them,  and  felt  better  to  be 
all  together  once  more.     We  retired  with  orders  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  2  in  the  morning,  without  noise,  and  anxiety  and  specu- 
lation was  all  the  talk   around   camp.      About    three  A.   M.  we 
moved  back  about  two  miles  to  near  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  formed  in  line  of  battle,  our  corps  occupying  the  left  of  the 
line  on  very  high  ground,  our  right  section  going  into  position  on 
a  hill,  the  whole  line  being  immediately  fortified  by  breastworks. 
On  the  morning  of  the  i3th  we  again  advanced  to  near  our  for- 
mer position  of  the   gth   and    loth,  covering    the  Dalton    road. 
The  cavalry   started  out  early  to  reconnoitre  toward  Dalton  and 
cut  the  railroad,  but  failed,  leaving   several  wounded   and  one 
killed.     General  Sherman  appeared  on  the  field  to-day,  the  first 
time  we  had  seen  him  since  we  started,  and  it  was  taken  as  an 
indication  that  things  would  be   lively  on  the  morrow,  and  we 
were  not  disappointed,  for  early  Friday  moining,  the   i3th,  the 
whole  line  seemed  to  be  alive.      The  cavalry  moved  out  early, 
taking  the  road  toward  Resaca,  and  not  long  afterwards  an  am- 
bulance passed  us  with  General  Kilpatrick  wounded  in  the  leg. 
The  general  advance  commenced  about  9  A.  M.     The  i6th  corps 
on  the  right,  our  own  next  to   their  left,  with  the  i4th  and  2oth 
to  our  left.     The  advance  continued  with  continuous  skirmishing 
until  we  were  within  easy  sight  and  range  of  their  works  around 
Resaca,  which   had   the   appeal  ance  of  carefully  prepared,  sub- 
stantial works.     We  were  ordered  into  position  about  3  P.  M.,  on 
an  elevation  commanding  a  splendid  view  of  their  works  and  the 
railroad  bridge,    and    before    dark    fired  a  few    shots  at    them. 
Although  the  firing  was   continuous   nearly   all    day,  no  general 
engagement  was  fought,  yet  the  losses  were  quite   heavy,  Lieut. 
John  Rumsey,  of  Battery  A,  being   wounded  about  dark,  in  the 
shoulder,  by  a  piece  of  shell  said  to  have  been  fired  by  some  of 
our  batteries.     Our   lines  were  all  intrenched   during  the  night, 
and  by  sunrise  Saturday   morning  musketry   and    cannonading 
commenced,  and  before  noon  had  reached  a  perfect  roar  of  both 
large  and  small  arms.      Late  in  the  afternoon  the  first  brigade  of 
our  division   charged   across  Lick  Creek,   and   drove   the   Rebs 
off  a  ridge  which  they  had  occupied  between  our  lines  and  their 


Thos.  Boyd,   «  Jas.  B.  Dutch, 

Sergt.  Jas.  B.  Easson, 
Jno.   W.  Powell,  H.  L.  Adair. 


Henry  B.  Cobb,  Kdwd.   Bancroft, 

Corpl.  Ceo.  T.  Hatch, 
Walter  Sherwood,  Walter  Scales. 


Wm.  Hathaway,  V.  E.  Hathaway, 

Wm.  Blakie, 
A.  H.  Rhodes,  J.  S.  Higgins. 


Mark  S.  Wyeth,  Danl.  W.  Sheldon. 

Corpl.  J.  V.  Lembke, 
H.  F.  Henrotin,  J.  E.  Thomas. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  73 

own  works.  The  charge  was  splendidly  made,  we  adding  our 
mite  by  dislodging  a  lot  of  skirmishers  behind  a  pile  of  rails 
which  we  splintered,  and  started  the  squad  from  their  shelter  at 
-a  double  quick,  much  to  the  amusement  of  our  infantry,  who 
helped  them  along  with  a  volley.  During  the  charge  our  men 
reached  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  were  there  checked  by  the 
rebel  artillery,  which,  by  the  way,  had  kept  remarkably  quiet 
until  now.  We  held  the  hill,  although  they  tried  several  times 
to  drive  our  boys  back,  continuing  the  fight  even  after  dark. 
During  the  night,  breastworks  were  thrown  up  on  the  ridge  last 
taken,  and  all  laid  down  with  the  belief  that  the  morrow  was  to 
see  a  hot  time,  particularly  as  it  was  Sunday.  We  were,  how- 
ever, disappointed,  as  very  little  was  done  more  than  skirmish- 
ing along  the  lines.  Our  battery  was  advanced  to  a  position  at 
the  foot  of  the  ridge,  commanding  the  valley  between  us  and  the 
Johnnies.  I, ate  in  the  night  they  charged  our  left,  but  were  re- 
pulsed, and  about  3  o'clock  Monday  morning  the  railroad  bridge 
was  discovered  on  fire,  and  fell  shortly  afterwards.  We,  of 
course,  knew  that  this  meant  retreat,  and  prepared  to  enter  the 
town  at  daylight.  They  had  left  a  large  quantity  of  cornmeal, 
shell  corn  and  beans,  in  sacks,  besides  4  pieces  of  artillery, 
battery  wagons,  forges,  etc.  We  noticed  particularly  the  effect 
of  our  shot  on  the  works  of  the  town,  and  appearances  indicated 
that  they  must  have  done  good  work.  The  loss  in  our  division 
was  stated  at  180  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  about  400  for  the 
corps.  Of  this  fight  General  Sherman  says  that  McPherson  lost 
his  opportunity  to  destroy  Johnson's  army,  by  not  pushing  for- 
ward and  attacking  Resaca  on  the  Qth  and  loth,  when  it  was 
only  garrisoned  by  a  single  brigade;  to  which  I  will  add  my 
humble  testimony  that  we  did  well  enough  as  a  starter. 

THE  PRESIDENT  :  Now  before  we  go  to  the  next  toast  I  will 
tell  you  a  little  story.  General  Sherman  and  his  staff  stopped  in 
a  house,  and  the  family  were  in  the  loft,  we  didn't  disturb  them 
and  they  didn't  disturb  us,  but  the  old  woman,  as  ?oon  as  she 
knew  it  was  Geneial  Sherman  that  was  in  the  house,  came 
around  and  said,  "I  say,  be  you  General  Sherman?"  Sherman 
says,  "That  is  my  name;"  "Well,  now,  General.  I  will  tell  you  what  I 
want  of  you,  I  want  two  dollars  and  a  half,  and  I  want  it  right 


74  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

away  too,  that  is  all  there  is  about  it;"  "Well,  my  dear  woman," 
says  the  General,  "why  should  I  give  you  two  dollars  and  a 
half."  "Well,  I  will  tell  you  just  how  it  was  General,  how  it 
happened,"  she  says,  "here  was  we  uns  over  on  that  side,  and 
there  was  you  uns  over  on  that  side,  and  they  commenced  fight- 
ing, and  they  fit  and  fit  and  fit,  and  they  would' have  fit  till  this 
time,  only  you  come  over  with  a  critter  company,  and  with  that 
company  knocked  over  my  ash  hopper,  and  it  will  cost  you  two 
dollars  and  a  half. "  Well,  they  did  knock  the  ash  hopper  to  be 
sure. 

The  next  regular  toast  is  "Dallas,"  WM.  C.  SCUPHAM. 

I  am  detailed  by  the  committee  of  arrangements  to  recount 
our  participation  in  the  battle  of  Dallas,  but  shall  venture  to  dis- 
obey orders  somewhat,  having  no  fear  of  extra  duty  before  my 
eyes,  by  taking  up  the  thread  of  history  where  Sauter  has  left  off 
and  dwell  briefly  on  the  incidents  of  the  preceding  march  so  as 
to  give  a  connected  account. 

We  had  crossed  the  Oostenaula  on  the  pontoon  bridge  on  the 
1 6th  of  May.  Heard  the  distant  thunder  of  Thomas'  guns  at 
Adairsville  and  Cassville,  while  we  on  the  extreme  right,  peace- 
fully threaded  our  way  over  some  of  the  finest  land  in  Georgia? 
with  the  brightest  of  skies  overhead  and  all  nature  smiling  serene- 
ly around  us. 

We  remained  three  days  on  the  banks  of  the  Etowah  near 
Kingston,  while  our  great  chief  was  perfecting  communications 
in  our  rear,  and  gathering  his  forces  well  in  hand,  to  so  fling  them 
against  the  enemy,  that  Alltoona,  his  second  strong  defensive 
position  should  fall  before  us. 

Then  when  all  was  ready,  we  crossed  the  Etowah,  marching 
on  the  Van  Wert  road,  through  an  interminable  pine  forest  most 
of  the  way.  and  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  scarcity  of  houses  and 
difficulty  of  procuring  water. 

The  morning  of  May  24th  found  us  drawn  up  alongside  of  the 
road,  on  a  wooded  hill  top,  waiting  to  start.  But  we  were  to  be 
in  the  rear,  so  we  watched  brigade  after  brigade  and  division  after 
division  file  past,  got  our  dinner,  and  then  regretfully  saw  the 
snail-like  wagon  train  lumber  in  ahead  of  us.  Very  regretfully,, 
because  by  that  time  we  well  knew  what  it  meant  to  be  guarding 
the  train. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  75 

Not  till  5  o'clock  p.  M.  did  we  draw  out,  and  then  commenced 
one  of  the  most  trying  night  marches  of  our  experience.  With 
dark  it  began  to  rain,  adding  to  the  interest  of  the  situation. 
Our  rate  of  progress  was  to  move  along  for  about  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes,  and  then  halt  for  half  an  hour;  then  just  as  we  would 
conclude  to  improve  the  time  by  arranging  some  rails  alongside 
a  fire  to  snatch  a  nap  and  dry  our  clothes  at  the  same  time,  on 
we  would  start  again  for  an  uncertain  distance. 

A  striking  feature  of  this  march  was  that  fires  were  built  along 
the  road  the  entire  distance,  the  rail  fences  furnishing  the  ready 
fuel,  presenting  a  weird  and  novel  aspect  when  we  reached  an 
elevation  and  looked  down  upon  the  tortuous  line  of  fire.  By 
midnight  we  had  accomplished  2^/2  miles,  entering  Van  Wert  at 
3  o'clock  we  drew  up  for  camp  in  an  orchard,  about  2  miles  be- 
yond, very  moist,  very  hungry,  and,  it  is  needless  to  add,  very 
sleepy. 

After  about  three  hours  sleep  and  a  hasty  breakfast  we  were 
off  again,  comparatively  happy  in  escaping  from  the  wagon  train. 
Shortly  after  noon  our  advance  skirmished  with  a  small  force  of 
the  enemy,  on  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  making  us  feel  that  there 
was  soon  to  be  work  for  us  again.  Towards  evening  we  drew  up 
for  camp ;  but  just  as  we  had  finished  supper  and,  while  looking 
for  a  display  of  heaven's  artillery  in  a  thickly  gathering  storm,  we 
heard  the  unmistakable  boom  of  heavy  guns,  in  the  direction  of 
Dallas  as  we  supposed,  undoubtedly  suggesting  to  our  command- 
ers the  propriety  of  closing  up  more  compactly,  for  we  soon  got 
orders  to  move  out  again,  and  on  one  of  the  darkest  of  dark 
nights,  under  a  pelting  rain,  we  marched  about  a  mile  further, 
stopping  at  9  p.  M.  for  the  night,  first  putting  our  guns  in  position 
on  a  commanding  height,  in  case  the  men  in  gray  should  call 
upon  us,  but  every  man  of  us,  excepting  our  trusty  guards,  find- 
ing the  soundest  and  sweetest  sleep  notwithstanding. 

Next  day,  the  26th,  we  started  out  towards  noon,  our  advance 
skirmishing  from  time  to  time  with  light  forces  of  the  enemy  who 
fell  back  before  us  readily,  though  once,  about  a  mile  from  Dal- 
las, our  whole  division  was  deployed  in  line  of  battle. 

We  entered  Dallas  without  serious  trouble,  and  stopped  with- 
in sight  of  it  for  dinner. 


76  REUNION  OF   TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

When  we  moved  on  again,  our  battery  was  well  in  the  advance, 
with  only  the  n6th  Illinois  and  Morgan  L.  and  Giles  Smith  and 
their  staff  ahead  of  us. 

We  had  gone  on  about  a  mile  to  where  the  road  turned  off  to 
the  south  approaching  a  wood,  into  which  our  advance  was  just 
entering,  when  suddenly  there  came  a  rattle  of  musketry  from 
out  the  timber,  a  hissing  of  bullets  around  us,  and  the  battle  of 
Dallas  had  begun. 

We  all  appreciated  that  we  had  narrowly  escaped  falling  into 
an  ambuscade.  But  the  old  2nd  division  was  not  easily  taken 
off  its  guard,  and  ere  many  minutes  was  deployed  in  line  of  bat- 
tle along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  facing  the  enemy  at  all  points, 
and  our  gallant  captain  had  placed  our  guns  in  battery  on  an  ele- 
vation on  the  side  of  the  road.  There  we  remained  inactive, 
while  the  heavy  skirmishing  ahead  and  the  occasional  bringing  of 
a  wounded  man  past  us,  told  of  the  serious  work  going  on  in  de- 
veloping the  rebel  lines. 

After  about  an  hour  of  this  suspense,  squad  I's  gun  was  or- 
dered to  take  position  on  the  front  to  the  left  of  the  road,  and 
soon,  we  in  the  rear  heard  our  comrades  announcing  that 
Battery  B  was  to  take  a  part  in  the  dispute,  while  the  quick  fol- 
lowing cheer  from  the  infantry  testified  their  appreciation  of  our 
services. 

We  were  wakened  early  the  morning  of  the  27th  by  heavy 
volleys  of  musketry,  and  soon  we  had  all  our  guns  in  the  line  of 
battle,  on  the  left  of  the  road  in  the  woods,  with  the  6th  Missouri 
supporting  us. 

In  our  front  was  heavy  timber  and  dense  underbrush,  afford- 
ing excellent  cover  for  our  own  and  the  enemies'  sharpshooters, 
who  kept  up  an  incessant  popping  at  each  other,  making  the 
bullets  whistle  around  us  very  unpleasantly  at  times,  while  we 
were  denied  the  satisfaction  of  talking  back  ourselves. 

In  the  afternoon,  one  of  these  stray  balls  struck  Charley 
Henny  in  the  foot,  and  deprived  squad  2  of  the  services  of  its 
efficient  and  popular  sergeant  from  that  time. 

Osterhaus,  on  our  left  was  heavily  engaged,  and  away  to  the 
left  we  could  hear  the  frequent  booming  of  Hooker's  guns,  but 
on  our  front  only  constant  skirmishing  throughout  the  day 
occurred. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  77 

The  morning  of  the  28th  was  unmarked  by  anything  unusual 
in  our  position.  I  doubt  if  the  term  wilderness  applied  as  fitly 
to  the  ground  our  eastern  army  fought  over,  as  to  our  battle-field. 
The  timber  and  underbrush  completely  shut  out  the  view  50  yards 
in  front  of  us,  so  there  was  little  use  for  our  artillery.  It  was  em- 
inently the  place  for  the  sharpshooter.  Ours  and  the  ene- 
mies' skirmishers  were  very  close,  watching  each  other  keenly, 
and  the  well  aimed  firing  was  almost  continuous. 

On  our  right,  the  ground  in  front  of  the  4th  division  was  more 
rolling.  Battery  H  and  the  ist  lov/a  Battery  occupying  two 
wooded  hills.  Late  in  the  morning  the  enemies'  artillery  opened 
heavily  on  them,  provoking  quite  an  artillery  duel,  but  you  all 
remember  the  accuracy  of  H's  20  pounder  Parrotts,  which  soon 
quieted  the  rebel  guns,  so  that  they  only  responded  sullenly  at 
long  intervals,  till  about  3  o'clock  p.  M.  when  an  ominous  silence 
ruled  along  the  whole  front  for  a  space.  Suddenly  about  4 
o'clock,  beginning  on  the  right  and  rapidly  spreading  along  the 
entire  front,  we  heard  the  familar  rebel  yell,  quickly  followed  by 
volleys  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  the  4th  division  batteries. 
The  battle  thunder  increased  momentarily,  and  each  one  of  us 
felt  the  awful  solemnity  of  the  impending  crisis.  In  our  immedi- 
ate front  the  assault  was  delayed,  but  pretty  soon  our  skirmishers 
came  running  into  our  line,  when  we  commenced  firing  to  the 
right  oblique,  where  we  could  see  the  gray  clad  men  occasionally 
among  the  trees,  but  I  think  we  never  got  a  good  chance  at  them 
as  a  line  of  battle. 

The  brunt  of  the  fight  was  borne  by  the  extreme  right,  which 
it  was  evidently  the  intention  of  the  enemy  to  turn.  So  fierce 
was  the  charge  there,  that  they  actually  carried  the  hill  of  the 
ist  Iowa  battery,  and  De  Gresse,  expecting  to  be  attacked  from 
there  also,  turned  two  of  his  guns  on  them.  But  they  only 
held  the  line  a  few  moments,  when  the  5th  Iowa  charged  them, 
driving  them  down  the  hill  with  great  loss. 

We  were  momentarily  expecting  these  scenes  and  experiences 
and  every  man  was  braced  up  and  ready  for  the  fiery  ordeal, 
and  there  was  really  a  feeling  of  disappointment  with  most  of 
us  when,  after  half  an  hour  of  incessant  battle  the  firing  virtually 
ceased,  without  our  having  a  real  good  whack  at  them.  For  \ve 


78  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

had  the  old  tried  6th  Missouri  around  us,  and  were  confident  the 
enemy  could  not  come  near.  (You  see  this  was  some  time  be- 
fore my  Andersonville  trip.) 

I  doubt  if  General  Logan  ever  did  better  service  than  on  this 
occasion.  There  was  a  spice  of  Sheridan  at  Winchester  in  him 
that  day.  Just  as  the  battle  opened  he  came  gallopping  along 
past  our  caissons,  where  he  encountered  a  lot  of  cooks  and  camp- 
followers  in  full  skedaddle  to  save  their  precious  necks.  In  his 
supreme  disgust  Logan  checked  his  horse,  and  with  a  terrible 
volley  of  strong  bible  words,  ordered  them  to  halt  and  to  lie  down 
where  they  were  if  they  were  scared,  which  in  their  terrified  awe 
some  of  them  actually  did. 

Then  you  all  remember  how  noble  he  looked  as  he  rode  along 
in  front  of  the  whole  line,  in  the  lull  that  followed  the  charge, 
when  we  were  expecting  it  to  be  renewed,  the  enthusiastic  cheers 
that  followed  him,  and  each  of  you  personally  felt  the  inspiration 
of  the  act. 

We  had  a  striking  demonstration  of  the  noise  our  Napoleons 
made  in  the  effect  upon  some  of  the  infantry  who  were  forward 
of  the  muzzle  of  our  guns,  owing  to  the  oblique  direction  of  our 
fire :  The  violent  concussion  caused  several  of  them  to  bleed  at 
the  nose,  and  many  more  were  more  or  less  deafened  for  long 
afterwards. 

Another  incident — You  can  probably  recall  the  handsome 
team  of  iron  grays  that  Powell  was  so  proud  of,  they  far  eclipsed 
most  of  our  travel-worn  horses,  but  they  had  never  seen  work  of 
this  kind  before,  and  when  our  pieces  added  their  thunder  to  the 
increasing  battle,  while  our  plain  old  veterans  stood  with  heads 
down,  scarcely  starting  after  the  first  discharge,  Powell's  stylish 
recruits  commenced  to  rear  and  plunge,  and  finally  bursting  away, 
they  ran  till  the  wheel  of  the  limber  came  up  against  a  sapling, 
where  the  strong  artillery  harness  held  them,  or  squad  s's  limber 
might  have  gone  to  a  very  unhandy  distance. 

There  was  a  goodly  number  of  prisoners  brought  in.  Those 
we  spoke  to  belonged  to  the  Florida  Brigade.  They  acknowl- 
edged they  were  very  badly  used  up,  and  said  they  supposed  we  were 
preparing  to  fall  back  and  expected  to  take  us  in  the  confusion 
of  the  movement.  They  had  on  knapsacks,  blankets  and  every- 
thing ready  to  chase  us  clear  back  to  Chattanooga. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S   BATTERY.  79 

About  1 1  o'clock  p.  M.  the  report  circulated  that  we  were  to 
evacuate  that  line,  to  close  up  on  Hooker's  right  about  4  miles 
away;  and  about  i  A.  M.  we  were  quietly  awakened  and  told  to 
pack  up,  but  no  orders  to  move  came,  so  we  returned  to  our 
slumbers  again. 

Sunday  the  2gth  was  characterized  by  the  usual  continuous 
skirmishing,  but  nothing  eventful  occurred  till  after  dusk,  when 
we  again  got  orders  to  pack  up,  and  about  9  P.  M.  had  drawn  out 
alongside  the  road,  ready  to  take  our  place  in  the  column,  which 
was  to  begin  from  the  right  of  the  line.  About  10  o'clock  one 
brigade  of  the  4th  division  had  passed  us,  also  the  ist  Iowa  and 
Cheeney's  Battery,  when  the  firing  we  had  heard  faintly  far  on 
the  left,  swelled  louder,  reached  the  front  of  Dodge's  command 
and  rose  to  incessant  thunder  before  Osterhaus. 

Who  of  us  can  forget  the  anxiety  of  that  moment?  How  we 
felt  that  we  were  unprepared?  We  feared  our  lines  were  so 
weakened  by  the  withdrawn  troops,  that  the  enemy  might  break 
through  somewhere  and  then  the  thought  of  foes  swarming  around 
tis  in  the  darkness,  must  have  occurred  to  many  of  you,  or  it  cer- 
tainly did  to  me.  But  as  we  hurried  back  to  our  position,  we 
heard  the  lusty  cheering  of  our  own  men,  that  we  had  learned  to 
distinguish,  and  hope  rose  again. 

I  doubt  if  any  member  of  the  i5th  Corps,  who  was  there,  will 
ever  forget  the  events  of  that  night. 

After  the  firing  had  died  down,  there  was  a  period  of  quiet, 
when  we  began  to  get  composed  again,  but  soon  we  heard  yel- 
ling indicating  another  charge,  then  a  deafening  discharge  of 
musketry  all  along  the  front,  and  then  Osterhaus'  artillery  made 
it  seem  a  veritable  pandemonium,  the  flashes  of  the  guns  light- 
ing up  the  lurid  scene  to  complete  the  resemblance.  This  was 
repeated  at  intervals  all  through  the  night.  I  have  since  under- 
stood that  much  of  this  was  a  waste  of  ammunition.  The  charg- 
ing was  mostly  imaginary.  But  it  seemed  a  certainty  to  us  then, 
and  we  stood  by  our  guns  waiting  and  watching  all  the  night 
through. 

The  event  of  the  3oth  was  a  visit  from  General  Sherman. 
Old  Billy  had  come  in  person,  to  see  if  it  would  be  safe  for  us  to 
pull  out.  With  Logan  and  their  staffs,  they  proceeded  down  the 


So  REUNION  OK  TAYLOR'S   BATTERY. 

road  to  inspect  our  front,  and  had  not  gone  far  when  one  of  the 
stray  bullets,  so  disagreeably  numerous  around  our  position,  pass- 
ed through  Logan's  sleeve  and  struck  Col.  Taylor,  who  was  near 
Sherman,  square  in  the  breast,  fortunately  penetrating  first  a 
thick  memorandum  book,  or  our  much  esteemed  first  command- 
er had  ended  his  life  there.  As  it  was,  it  inflicted  an  ugly  wound, 
disabling  him  from  service  till  the  close  of  the  war. 

Before  daylight  on  the  3ist,  squad  5*5  gun,  to  which  I  belonged, 
was  ordered  to  take  position  on  the  skirmish  line.  We  muf- 
fled the  wheels  and  pulled  it  carefully  and  noislessly  along  the 
road  to  the  advance  rifle  pits,  there  we  masked  the  gun  with 
brush,  and  daylight  found  us  quietly  seated  behind  the  breast- 
work. I  doubt  if  the  battery  ever  got  a  position  in  closer  quart- 
ers than  we  had  then.  The  rebel  riflemen  were  less  than  50 
yards  away,  screened  and  alert  for  every  shot.  To  add  to  our 
discomfort  the  ground  rose  up  behind  us  so  there  was  no  safety 
in  lying  low  and  creeping  back  if  we  wished  to  leave  the  gun  for 
anything. 

We  saw  many  infantry  men  killed  and  wounded  around  us. 
One  poor  fellow  was  bringing  dinner  up  for  some  of  his  comrades 
he  was  stooping  but  not  low  enough,  for  a  rebel  ball  struck  his 
breast  with  a  sickening  thud,  and  he  fell  dead  across  my  feet. 

Fortunately  for  us  we  did  not  have  to  expose  ourselves.  We 
were  there  in  case  another  charge  was  attempted,  when  we  could 
have  had  it  hot  and  heavy;  but  as  it  happened  we  had  nothing 
to  do  but  take  care  of  ourselves,  which  we  did  to  the  best  of  our 
ability. 

We  were  glad  indeed,  when  after  dark,  we  got  orders  to  retire 
our  gun,  and  so  we  silently  wheeled  it  back,  our  hearts  rose  with 
every  step  till  we  rejoined  the  battery,  which  we  found  once 
more  prepared  to  make  the  long  expected  move  to  the  left. 

We  were  all  ready  and  waiting  before  daylight  on  the  ist  of 
June,  but  we  learned  that  we  were  assigned  the  honorable  and 
hazardous  duty  of  guarding  the  rear  of  the  movement. 

We  took  up  a  position  on  a  hill  a  little  way  back,  and  stood 
by  our  guns  while  regiment  after  regiment  and  battery  after  bat- 
tery was  drawn  out  from  the  lines  and  marched  past.  The  trying 
time  for  our  nerves  was  when  we  knew  the  skirmish  line  was  be- 


REUNION*  OK  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  Si 

ing  withdrawn.  We  fully  expected  the  enemy  would  observe 
that,  and  follow  them  in  with  a  charge.  I  can  remember  my 
sensations  as  I  saw  the  straggling  line  appear  here  and  there  ta 
the  front  of  us,  and  heard  the  scattering  shots  still,  back  at  the 
rifle  pits. 

As  they  approached  us  we  commenced  to  move  back  in 
echelon,  and  did  justice  to  our  old  time  drilling  by  executing  the 
movement  very  handsomely. 

Fortunately  no  enemy  appeared.  I  believe  they  were  mak- 
ing a  similar  movement  at  the  same  time,  though  from  the  con- 
tinual desultory  firing,  we  thought  at  that  time,  that  we  completely 
fooled  them. 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Dallas.  The  loss  to  our  company 
was  trifling  compared  with  other  engagements;  but  it  was  through- 
out a  period  of  great  anxiety  and  uncertainty.  The  continued 
attempt  to  get  us  a\vay,  made  us  feel  that  something  was  wrong, 
that  perhaps  "some  one  had  blundered:"  And  I  think  you  will 
all  agree  with  me  when  I  say  we  were  all  very  glad  when  we 
found  ourselves  safely  out  of  it. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  next  regular  toast  is,  "Kensaw  Mt.  and 
Mill  Creek,"  ARTHUR  BURNAM. 

MR.  BURNAM  :  Before  I  commence,  I  wish  some  one  would 
stand  at  the  door  with  a  club  to  prevent  anyone  from  going  out, 
as  I  'know  most  of  you  will  want  to  go  out  when  I  begin. 

THE  PRFSIDENT:     Make  it  short. 

MR.  BURNAM  :     It  will  be  very  short. 

As  a  soldier  must  obey  orders  whether  he  wishes  to  or  not, 
so  I,  in  obedience  to  my  superior  officer,  will  attempt  to  tell 
what  I  can  remember  about  Kenesaw  and  Mill  Grove.  If  you 
will  ask  our  friend,  Jack  Vernon,  he  will  tell  you  there  was  one 
order  I  always  obeyed  promptly.  When  his  melodious  voice 
called  "Dinner  Squad  Four,"  I  never  was  the  last  at  the  "sow 
belly"  pan. 

We  had  been  gradually  driving  the  enemy  back  towards  At- 
lanta, and  the  Graybacks  they  had  left  behind  following  out  the* 
pugilistic  example  set  them  by  their  former  owners,  did  not  take 
very  kindly  to  ours,  and  hostilities  were  at  once  renewed,  and 
only  by  superior  strategy,  were  ours  victorious,  and  we  allowed 


82  REUNION  OK   TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

rest.  I  can  remember  how  it  rained  the  'night  before  the  ad- 
vance on  Kenesaw,  and  early  in  the  morning,  looking  up  to  the 
top  of  the  mountain  which  was  veiled  in  a  mist,  thinking  if  we 
drove  the  rebels  from  there,  General  Sherman  would  have  his 
hands  full.  The  55th  Ills.,  who  had  just  returned  from  a  fur- 
lough,— having  re-enlisted — were  crossing  over  an  open  space, 
a  shell  thrown  at  them  bursted,  killing  and  wounding  several. 
We  had  several  severe  artillery  duels  with  the  batteries  at  the 
base  of  the  mountain,  but  they  were  finally  driven  back  out  of 
range  of  our  Napoleons.  Remember  how  we  used  to  go  over  to 
DeGrasse's  Battery  and  see  his  Parrots  fire  at  the  battery  on  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  as  if  it  were  only  yesterday,  and  recollect  how  I 
used  to  hunt  the  butt  of  the  largest  tree  when  they  replied.  It 
was  there  Lieut.  Blaisdell  died.  He  would  persist  in  going  with 
us.  I  took  care  of  him  for  a  few  days.  Finally  an  attack  was 
made  all  along  the  lines,  and  the  57th  Ohio,  who  were  on  our 
right,  suffered  badly.  You  all  remember  we  took  quite  an  in- 
terest in  them,  as  many  of  them  had  been  detailed  to  serve  with 
us  at  one  time  while  we  were  short-handed,  and  were  good  men. 
The  enemy  were  finally  outflanked,  and  retired  towards  Atlanta, 
and  we  followed  on  towards  the  city.  We  were  all  congratulat- 
ing ourselves  that  so  far  we  had  been  pretty  fortunate.  Our 
term  of  service  would  expire  in  a  few  days,  and  as  we  had  passed 
through  some  seventeen  battles  we  were  not  like  the  Donny- 
brook  man,  spoiling  for  a  row.  As  we  lay  camped  near  a  creek 
we  saw  Capt.  Rumsey  mount  that  sorrel  horse  of  his  and  start 
off.  Pretty  soon  he  returned  with  the  order  to  "Hitch  up." 
Then  we  knew  trouble  was  coming.  The  whole  line  advanced, 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  skirmish  of  Nigger  Jack  Creek  (or  as 
we  have  it  on  our  discharges,  Mill  Grove)  took  place.  While  if 
lasted  it  was  as  severe  as  many  of  the  others.  I  can  remember 
how  I  felt  that  day.  Was  with  squad  two  then,  as  owing  to  sick- 
ness and  losses  in  battles  we  had  been  cut  down  from  a  six  to  a 
four  gun  battery.  Squads  three  and  four  had  been  divided 
among  the  rest.  I  was  assigned  to  Squad  one,  and  Simpson, 
the  No.  2  on  the  gun,  being  sick,  I  was  detailed  to  go  in  his 
place.  I  really  believe  I  never  went  into  a  fight  with  more  fear 
and  trembling  than  I  did  that  one,  for  as  I  have  said  before,  our 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  83 

time  was  almost  out.  None  of  us  were  anxious  to  be  hit  then, 
— or  any  other  time.  The  day  was  very  hot  and  at  one  time  our 
gun  was  so  warm  that  we  were  obliged  to  cease  firing  in  order  to 
let  it  cool.  The  artillery  duel  we  had  with  the  battery  across 
the  creek  was  lively  while  it  lasted.  After  I  had  loaded  the  gun 
I  could  lay  down  on  the  ground  and  take  up  very  little  space, 
while  their  shells  were  bursting  over  us.  They  were  finally 
driven  from  their  position,  and  we  advanced  over  the  creek  and 
the  row  was  over.  As  we  were  crossing,  we  saw  the  major  of  a 
New  Jersey  Regiment  being  embalmed,  having  been  shot  through 
the  heart  early  in  the  engagement.  We  still  followed  on  after 
the  enemy  till  we  reached  the  Chattahooche  River,  and  from 
there  we  first  saw  Atlanta  in  the  distance.  Then  we  were  or- 
dered to  go  to  Marietta  and  start  for  Springfield  to  be  mustered 
out.  The  15  miles  intervening  were  walked  over  lively;  even 
our  Sgt.  Purinton,  with  his  horse,  could  not  get  ahead  of  us, 
he  having  improved  much  in  horsemanship  since  his  Bird's  Point 
experience  with  his  Mexican  mustang.  Let  me  only  say  in  con- 
clusion : — "Boys,  let  us  keep  up  these  meetings  and  I  solemnly 
promise  you  not  to  inflict  any  more  reminiscences,  so  you  can 
all  come  and  have  a  good  time." 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Now  gentlemen  we  proceed  to,  "Atlanta," 
JAMES  W.  PORTER. 

MR.  PORTER  :  Mr.  President  and  Comrades,  Atlanta  is  a 
serious  and  not  a  facetious  subject,  I  must  therefore  ask  you  to 
let  me  tell  you  at  our  next  banquet,  not  this  morning,  what  I 
know,  or  don't  know  about  Atlanta.  (Cheers). 

If  I  don't  know  how  to  make  a  speech,  I  know  how  to  keep 
still  as  well  as  anybody. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  Well,  what  about  "Our  Supplies,"  B.  F. 
McCarty.  where  is  he? 

MR.  TURNER:     I  move  we  adjourn. 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY  :  We  have  got  to  have  tattoo  and  taps,  be- 
fore we  adjourn. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  The  motion  to  adjourn  is  not  seconded. 
Perhaps  some  of  you  have  some  suggestions  to  make  about  the 
future. 

MR.  DUDLEY:     Mr.  Chairman,  I  move  you  sir,  that  we  now 


84  REUNION  OK  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

adjourn  to  meet  some  future  time  to  be  designated  by  the  old 
officers  of  the  Battery,  let  it  be  in  one  year  or  in  five  years,  as 
they  think  best. 

MR.  SHEPHERD  :  Yes,  I  think  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  des- 
ignate a  day,  any  year  ahead,  or  appoint  a  committee  to  desig- 
nate the  time  that  it  shall  be  held,  and  that  they  give  timely 
notice,  six  months  is  not  too  much,  if  we  want  them  all  there. 

MR.  SHEPHERD  :  I  would  move  that  the  executive  committee 
who  have  been  in  charge  of  this  banquet,  and  its  successful 
occasion,  be  appointed  a  committee. 

MR.  AFFELD  :     No.     I  object,  I  wouldn't  serve  again. 

MR.  SHEPHERD  :  Then  I  move  you,  that  you  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  serve  for  a  banquet  two  years  from  to-night. 

A  MEMBER:     I  move  to  adjourn. 

Motion  seconded. 

THE  PRESIDENT:     Gentlemen,  you  have  heard  the  motion. 

MR.  SAUTER:  I  would  like  to  move,  that  the  present  officers 
of  Taylor's  Battery  B  Association,  be  re-elected,  until  their  suc- 
cessors be  appointed. 

MR.  SHEPHERD  :     I  second  that  motion. 

THE  PRESIDENT;  Well,  gentlemen,  I  don't  know  that  I  really 
understand  that  motion,  unless  it  be — 

MR.  SAUTER  :  That  the  present  officers  of  the  Battery  hold 
their  offices  until  other  officers  are  elected. 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY:  We  haven't  time  to  go  over  our  election 
to-night;  these  officers  have  held  over  for  some  time,  and  there 
should  be  an  election  of  officers  to-night,  but  as  we  haven't  time 
I  am  in  favor  of  Mr.  Sauter's  motion. 

THE  PRESIDENT:  All  in  favor  of  Mr.  Sauter's  motion  say 
aye.  Carried. 

MR.  PIERCE:  I  understand  that  the  bugler  with  us  absolutely 
refuses  to  take  any  pay  for  his  services,  and  I  move  that  a  vote 
of  thanks  be  tendered  to  him. 

Which  motion  was  seconded  and  carried. 

CAPTAIN  RUMSEY  :  I  now  move  that  we  have  tattoo  and  taps, 
and  adjourn  to  meet  at  the  basement  of  the  Michigan  Avenue 
Methodist  Church,  tomorrow  evening. 

Motion  seconded. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  85 

THE  PRESIDENT;  All  in  favor  of  the  motion,  signify  the  same 
by  saying  aye. 

Motion  carried. 

Tattoo  and  taps  were  then  sounded,  and  the  re-union  ad- 
journed SINE  DIE. 


TO    CELEBRATE 

THE    TWENTY-FIFTH   ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 
BATTLE    OF    BELMONT. 

RE-UNION 

OF 

TAYLORS  BATTERY 

4 

AT     THE 

GRAND  PACIFIC  HOTEL, 

NOVEMBER  6TH,  1886. 


EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE: 

J.  M.  VERNON,          CHAS.  E.  AFFELD,  I.  P.  RUMSEY,. 

C.  W.  PIERCE,  JAS.  B.  DUTCH. 


lln  flfeemoriatrL 


All  comrades  who  were  present  at  theBelmont 
reunion,  will  remember  the  pleasant  visit  we  had 
from  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  our  old  commander  on 
many  bloody  battle-fields.  The  General  was  then 
temporarily  stopping  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel, 
and,  by  request,  came  into  the  banquet  hall  to 
meet  the  boys  whom  he  had  known  so  well  by 
reputation  and  long  association  during  the  war. 
His  appearance  among  us  was  the  signal  for  a 
grand  ovation,  after  which,  he  honored  us  with  a 
few  remarks  of  a  pleasant  nature.  This  visit  from 
the  General  was  his  last  appearance  in  public,  for 
very  soon  thereafter  he  was  stricken  with  the  ill- 
ness that  ended  in  his  death.  His  memory  will 
always  be  cherished  by  the  Nation,  and  especially 
by  those  of  us  whose  lives  were  so  closely  inter- 
woven with  his  during  those  terrible  years  from 
'6 1  to  '65.  He  was  a  brave,  loyal,  earnest  soldier, 
and  well  merited  the  praise  that  has  been  bestowed 
upon  him. 

Great  soldier!  Noble  man!  We  revere  his 
memory.  "  Requiescat  in  pace." 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES 

AT    THE 

RE-UNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY, 

HELD    AT    THE    GRAND    PACIFIC    HOTEL, 

ON    THE    TWENTY-FIFTH    ANNIVERSARY    OF     THE 

BATTLE    OF    BELMONT. 


Assembly,  E.  E.  REXFORD,  Battery  A. 

ROLL  CALL. 

ELECTION    OF    OFFICERS. 
March  to  Dining  Room  to  the  Music  of  the  Bugle. 


Presiding  Officer,  -    .       MAJ.  SAM'L  E.  BARRETT. 


Introductory  Address,  CAPT.  I.  P.  RUMSEY. 

Song,  -"  TENTING  ON  THE  OLD  CAMP  GROUND." 

SUPPER  CALL. 

Report  of  Taylor's  Battery  Association,  W.  T.  SHEPHERD. 
Letters  and  Communications,  C.  W.  PIERCE. 

"Our  Honored  Dead,"  H.  W.  DUDLEY. 

Song,     -  -     "  THE  VACANT  CHAIR." 

Address, — "  Battle  of  Belmont,"  CAPT.  P.  H.  WHITE. 

Song,  "  RALLY  ROUND  THE  FLAG,  BOYS." 

Gen'l  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  Report  of  the  Battle  of 

Fort  Donelson,  C.  W.  PIERCE. 

Song,  "KINGDOM  COMING." 

"From  Bird's  Point  to  Belmont,"  CAPT.  I.  P.  RUMSEY. 

Song,  "  WHEN  JOHNNY  COMES  MARCHING  HOME  AGAIN." 
Consolidated  Batteries  A  &  B  at  Atlanta,  LIEUT.  J.  B.  DUTCH. 
Song,  .  "  MARCHING  THRO'  GEORGIA." 

Sermon — "  Moses,  take  off  dem  boots,"  H.  T.  CHAPPELL. 

Song,  ....  «  OLD  SHADY." 

Andersonville,  W.  C.  SCUPHAM. 

Song,  'TRAMP,  TRAMP,  TRAMP." 

TATTOO.  TAPS. 


i'\ninimi  anil  (:U)mi 

//,  -//yr  /:./:/ . .  x  //;  ^:     /  ^ 


//^/y/  y^;/' 

•  y>V/ //y/ff  /  «/ >/S  /  VV/  f  fYrr/' .  /•     //. 

-  Deception  Commift'ee.  - 
.  5.'  //  /y/// x^//,  <C./ Stfufer :  J*. .  Wint/t: 


J/.W. 


/s<  •///    ^/     at-twe^tfa-ntf.    f-'f    '«f/',f 
y  ,'  •//////  //'/ff,  •(///(•//  /(  /r    'sffSf/  (/////  s    /s///f/'s/'/  //•///  (--///'f/s   f/T 

-Executive  Commitree-" 

./(  t  /  jicxJi  l)i  //(•//, 


./.M.  1  'crnon.  /  S>Jfiftii.vr\ 

<'.}{'./>/<'/•<•<'. 


The  preceding  page,  representing  the  invitations  issued  for 
the  banquet  on  the  25th  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Belmont, 
is  headed  with  a  picture  of  one  section  of  a  field  batterv,  in 
action  behind  earthworks.  In  connection  with  1  hat  picture  there 
is  a  bit  of  history  which  will  doubtless  be  of  interest  to  all  com- 
rades, and  we  give  it  herewith. 

The  committeee  on  printing,  appointed  for  that  banquet,  in 
casting  about  for  an  appropriate  heading  for  the  card  of  invita- 
tion, found,  in  the  August,  1886,  number  of  the  Century  Maga- 
zine, this  picture,  entitled  the  rebel  "  Washington  Battery  of 
New  Orleans  on  Marye's  Hill"  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
Va.,  in  the  autumn  of  1862.  Our  committee  had  not  forgotten 
that  we  captured  the  whole  of  the  Washington  Battery  of  New 
Orleans,  at  the  battle  of  Belmont,  twenty-five  years  previously, 
and  that  our  battery,  alone,  brought  off  from  the  field  two  of 
the  guns,  and  carried  them  on  the  transport  with  us  to  Cairo. 
We  thought  there  could  be  nothing  more  appropriate  than  this 
picture,  to  head  our  cards  of  invitation  for  our  banquet  in  com- 
memoration of  that  battle,  and  we  therefore  procured  the  photo- 
gravure copy  which  is  shown  herewith. 


INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS 

BY  CAPT.  I.  P.  RUMSEY. 

MY  COMRADES  AND  FELLOW  MEMBERS  OF  TAYLOR'S 
CHICAGO  BATTERY: 

OUR  PRESIDENT  asks  me  to  say  a  few  words  of  welcome, 
but  it  is  hardly  necessary  for  any  one  to  speak  for  the  rest,  as 
this  is  a  meeting  of  welcome  from  each  to  the  other. 

Our  hearts  swell  and  beat  faster  as  we  greet  honored  com- 
rades, and  renew  the  friendship  commenced  twenty-five  years  ago 
and  strengthened  as  we  stood  by  our  guns  through  the  battles  of 
Fredericktown,  Belmont,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Holly  Springs, 
Chickasaw  Bayou,  Arkansaw  Post,  Champion  Hills,  Siege  of 
Vicksburg,  Richmond,  La.,  and  Black  River — then  coming  up 
the  Mississippi  River  with  Gen.  Sherman  to  Memphis. — The 
march  with  Gen.  Sherman  to  Chattanooga,  which  march  over 
the  Tennessee  Mountains  with  our  artillery  we  remember 
well — then  Mission  Ridge — the  forced  march  to  Knoxville  to 
the  relief  of  Gen.  Burnside,  thence  to  Tellico  Plain,  Tenn.,  at 
the  foot  of  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains,  the  troops  resting 
there  while  the  cavalry  followed  the  retreating  rebel  cavalry 
over  the  mountains  into  North  Carolina. 

Returning  to  Chattanooga  we  were  camped  at  Larkinsville, 
Ala.  during  that  unprecedented  severe  winter  of  1 863  and  '64,  and 
where  we  received  our  new  battery  of  Napoleon  guns — then 
through  the  Atlanta  Campaign  and  in  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
Dallas,  and  Nick-a-Jack  Creek,  and  the  terrible  part  taken  by 
some  of  our  number  at  Atlanta — all  for  what?  Money  or 
honor — no,  dear  comrades,  but  for  our  country,  whose  honor 
and  preservation  we  loved,  and  as  true  american  citizens  thought 
more  of  than  we  did  of  our  lives. 

As  we  recite  these  scenes  of  hardship  and  danger  we  have 
survived,  there  is  mingled  with  the  joy  of  welcome  the  love  and 
sadness  for  our  beloved  and  lamented  comrades  who  fell  in  the 
battle  and  by  duease. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  91 

The  first  of  our  number  who  fell,  and  one  who  has  not  his 
superior  as  a  man,  a  citizen,  or  a  soldier,  was  Orderly  Sgt. 
Charles  W.  Everett.  He  fell  at  Belmont,  twenty-five  years 
ago  to-morrow,  at  about  1 1  o'clock,  struck  in  the  head  by  a 
bullet  while  riding  from  Capt.  Ezra  Taylor  to  Lieut.  Baii'ett. 

Soon  after  another  of  our  best  men — Sgt.  David  F.  Chase, 
received  a  bullet  which  disabled  him  for  life.  We  rejoice  to  be 
able  to  welcome  him  here  to-night,  though  still  carrying  that 
Belmont  rebel  bullet  in  his  body. 

Another  noble  comrade  who  was  No.  i  on  Squad  Three — 
Gen.  Geo.  Q.  White  still  lives,  but  since  the  day  of  the  battle 
on  whose  anniversary  we  meet,  has  supported  but  one  arm. 

We  welcome  each  other,  coming  from  different  pursuits — 
from  the  pulpit,  the  bar,  the  manufactory,  the  paint-shop,  the 
blacksmith's  shop,  the  farm,  the  office  and  the  store. 

We  come  from  our  homes,  where  we  have  left  our  "  better- 
halves"  and  our  134  children — accounted  for — to  talk  over  those 
days  that  have  bound  us  so  closely  together,  and  we  will  return 
to  our  loved  ones  with  a  freshened  memory  of  that  from  which 
the  Lord  saved  us,  with  a  keener  appreciation  of  the  blessings, 
for  which  may  we  ever  praise  His  great  name. 

LETTERS    AND    COMMUNICATIONS. 

AUBURNDALE,  MASS.,  Oct.   26,   l886. 

MR.  C.  W.  PIERCE, 

DEAR  COMRADE:  I  cannot  say  no,  and  will  say,  that  if  I 
can  so  arrange  my  business,  as  to  leave  it  for  even  a  few  hours- 
Reunion  with  my  old  friends  of  Battery  B,  I  shall  do  so.  It  will 
be  something  entirely  unforeseen  which  will  keep  me  from  en- 
joying the  occasion.  If  it  would  be  of  interest,  I  could  bring  a 
framed  set  of  the  B  ittery  Groups,  a  Complete  Uniform  worn 
then,  the  Fredericktown  cannon  ball  and  some  other  trinkets. 
Yours  very  truly,  WM.  T.  SHEPHERD. 

WAUSAU,  Wis.,  Nov.  i,  1886. 
MR.  C.  W.  PIERCE,  Chicago,  111. 

DEAR  FRIEND:  More  deeply  than  words  can  express,  do  I 
regret  my  inability  to  be  present  at  the  reunion  of  our  old  com- 
rades-in-arms in  Chicago  on  Nov.  6th,  the  invitation  to  which 
is  just  received,  with  most  heartfelt  thanks. 


C)2  REUNIOX  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

Though  I  cannot  then  be  with  you  all  in  person,  rest  assured 
I  shall  be  with  you  in  spirit,  as  then,  in  story  and  in  song  of 
camp  and  field  you  will  again  tell  over  in  laughter  and  in  tears, 
the  thrice-told  tales  of  privations  endured,  perils  encountered, 
heroic  deeds  of  daring  performed,  and  of  many  a  hard  battle 
fought  and  won  in  that  noble  struggle  that  had  for  its  object 
nothing  less  than  the  defense  and  preservation  of  our  grand  old 
Ship  of  State,  which  then  so  proudly  rode  the  storm  of  civil 
strife,  and  which,  under  God's  blessing  at  last,  weather-beaten, 
storm-tossed  and  battle-scarred, gallantly  and  triumphantly  made 
the  port  of  an  honorable,  lasting  and  fraternal  peace. 

With  my  very  kindest  regards  to  all  the  members  of  old  Bat- 
tery B  who  may  be  present  on  that  occasion,  and  with  the  hope 
that  at  some  future  reunion  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  taking 
each  by  the  hand,  and  with  them  of  living  over  again  the  stir- 
ring days  of  "  Auld  Lang  Syne,"  believe  me 

Very  regretfully,  A.  B.  WILCOX. 

NEW  YORK,  Nov.  4,  1886. 

DEAR  COMRADE:  I  acknowledge  with  pleasure  the  receipt 
of  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Battery  reunion  on  the  6th 
inst.,and  until  within  a  day  or  two  I  have  hoped  to  be  with  you 
on  that  memorable  dccasion,  but  circumstances  do  not  favor  and 
I  can  only  send  my  regrets. 

However,  I  have  no  particular  occassion  to  celebrate  the 
anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Belmont,  I  was  a  non-combatant  on 
that  day  holding  myself  in  reserve  with  (I  think)  the  left  section 
in  anticipation  of  a  possible  attack  in  the  rear.  I  did  my  share  of 
shouting,  and  it  might  be  said  of  me,  as  the  "  Times  "  said  of  a  dis- 
tinguished Chicago  editor,  that  "  Although  he  didn't  fight  him- 
self, he  eloquently  urged  everybody  else  to  fight."  My  only 
services  were  in  getting  poor  Charley  Everett  and  George 
White  to  the  boat,  which  I  did  with  as  much  tenderness  as  the 
unusual  haste  necessary  would  admit  of.  Charley  Everett  and  I 
were  boys  together  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  it  was  owing  to 
this  circumstance  that  1  was  appointed  Q.  M.  S. 

Perhaps  it  was  fortunate  that  I  did  not  get  into  the  action  at 
Belmont,  as  in  that  event  the  army  might  not  have  had  my  ser- 
vices at  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  Vicksburg  and  those  glorious 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  93 

victories  might  have  "  passed  into  history  "  as  triumphs   for  the 
Confederate  arms. 

I  recognize  the  faithful  likenesses  of  Majors  Taylor  and 
Barrett  at  the  head  of  your  invitation,  and  the  next  time  I  am 
so  fortunate  as  to  "  fill  "  I  shall  put  enough  aside  in  the  "  Kitty  '* 
to  have  the  picture  framed. 

It  is  so  long  since  I  have  seen  any  one  connected  with  the 
glorious  Taylor's  Battery  (except  Mr.  Machin)  that  I  believe  I 
should  feel  like  a  Rip  Van  Winkle  if  I  found  myself  in  com- 
pany with  my  old  Comrades.  But  "  allee  samee  "  as  I  have 
read  so  much  of  history  that  my  (alleged)  mind  is  a  little  con- 
fused on  certain  things,  I  should  like  to  cross-examine  the  old 
Battery  members  on  certain  points,  in  order  to  know  just  how  I 
came  to  have  such  a  wrong  impression  about  certain  events  in 
which  I  was  an  unimportant  actor.  For  many  years  I  was  cer- 
tain that  we  were  surprised  at  Shiloh,  and  although  I  know  now 
that  we  were  not,  I  should  like  to  have  corroborative  proof  f  rom- 
say,  Jack  Vernon,  Lowrey,  Herrick,  Jim  Whittle  and  others 
who  achieved  fame  on  that  bloody  day,  that  they  had  known 
for  months  of  the  inevitable  big  fight,  and  with  their  cheese- 
knives  in  their  scabbards  were  calmly  awaiting,  with  folded 
arms,  the  opening  gun  which  was  to  precipitate  that  famous 
conflict  about  which  there,  has  been  so  much  dispute. 

As  I  write,  I  recall  so  many  of  the  faces  of  the  old  boys — 
Taylor,  Barrett,  Pat  White,  Hart,  Rumsey,  Chase,  Blaisdellr 
McCoy,  Dickinson,  Heartt,  Wyeth,  Towner,  Jack  Moore,  the 
other  Moore,  Purinton,  Henrotin,  Scales,  Schnur,  Putz,  Affeld, 
Dutch,  Dudley,  Chappell,  Bogue  and  many  others. 

Of  all  these,  the  only  ones  that  I  have  seen  for  many  years 
are  Tom  Boyd,  who  is  not  now  visible  on  Broadway  ;  Pat  White, 
whom  I  used  occasionally  to  see  in  Albany,  Machin  who  tells 
me  that  he  will  be  with  you  at  the  reunion,  and  Jack  Moore 
who  died  eight  or  ten  years  since,  and  who  for  several  years 
prior  thereto  attended  a  masonic  lodge  meeting  five  nights 
every  week  the  year  round. 

Of  the  rest  I  was  an  eye-witness  to  the  fact  that  some  per- 
ished in  action  and  I  presume  that  many  more  are  nowr  under 
the  sod,  but  it  would  be  interesting  to  look  over  the  roll  and  find 
"  all  present  or  accounted  for." 


94  REUNION  OF   TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

The  strongest  friendships  I  have  are  for  my  old  Battery 
comrades,  and  under  any  circumstances  I  shall  always  have  the 
same  cordial  greeting  for  them.  If  any  of  "  you  uns  "  come 
this  way,  come  and  see  me — "  My  latch-string  is  always  out  and 
I  am  always  in."  With  kindest  regards  for  all  the  surviving 
•members  of  Taylor's  Battery,  both  individually  and  collectively 
believe  me,  as  ever,  Yours  sincerely, 

1 04  West  43rd  St.,  N.  Y.,  or  29  Park  Row.          T.  P.  ROBERTS. 

BATAVIA,  Nov.  4,  1886. 
MR.  C.  W.  PIERCE, 

DEAR  COMRADE:  On  receiving  an  invitation  to  attend  a 
banquet  on  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Belmont,  it 
stirs  within  me  the  old  patriotic  fire  which  has  so  long  slumbered, 
only  to  be  awakened  by  such  pleasing  occurrences  as  to  meet 
again  with  the  boys  who  have  faced  the  dangers  of  war  with  me 
for  three  -long  years;  when  we  left  our  homes  and  enlisted  in 
the  service  of  our  country,  we  little  knew  or  realized  the  perils 
and  hardships  we  would  encounter,  but  I  believe  we  met  them 
unflinchingly,  and  discharged  all  duties  that  devolved  upon  us  in 
a  manner  becoming  our  station,  especially  when  we  met  the  foe, 
we  welcomed  them  according  to  orders  from  our  great  General 
Grant,  in  brilliant  fireworks.  Taylor's  Battery  were  generally 
participants  in  the  illumination,  and  long  will  we  remember  the 
missiles  of  death  that  laid  low  many  of  our  number  who,  in  early 
manhood  gave  their  life  for  liberty  and  protection  to  our  loved 
country,  and  as  we  assemble  here  to-day  in  honor  of  a  glorious 
victory,  and  to  meet  brothers  in  war,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure; 
it  also  recalls  sad  memories  of  those  who  desperately  fought  and 
fell,  in  achieving  a  victory  that  our  nation  is  proud  to  honor, 
while  they  sleep  in  their  mantle  of  glory,  the  sleep  that  knows 
no  waking,  unconscious  of  the  laurels  they  helped  to  win. 

W"e  all  remember  the  glad  tidings  that  our  term  of  service 
had  expired,  and  that  we  would  gaze  for  the  last  time  on  the 
once  sunny  South,  then  in  the  midst  of  a  desolate  war.  Pen 
can  never  portray  the  joy  of  meeting  home  and  friends  once 
more,  and  the  grand  banquet  awaiting  our  arrival.  Twenty- 
two  years  have  passed  since  then,  and  we  find  the  sickle  of 
death  has  not  been  idle;  our  loved  Colonel  has  answered  the 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  95 

last  roll-call,  also  many  others,  and  the  time  will  not  be  long 
when  the  summons  will  come  to  us,  and  while  we  live,  that  we 
may  often  meet  in  the  bonds  of  a  never-dying  friendship,  is  the 
wish  of  your  Comrade,  "  OLD  DAD." 

C.  W.  PIERCE,  ROCKFORD,  ILL.,  Oct.  26,  1886. 

DEAR  COMRADE:  My  time  is  so  taken  up  with  meeting 
the  requirements  of  my  large  District,  that  I  cannot  be  present 
at  the  reunion  of  Battery  B.  Please  give  the  comrades  my  re- 
gards, and  tell  them  I  have  not  forgotten  the  duties  of  No.  2  on 
the  gun,  nor  the  mess  table  of  Squad  4.  I  remember  with 
pleasure  the  kindness  of  Lieut's  Barrett,  White  and  Rumsey. 
The  aid  the  Affeld  brothers  gave  me,  when  I  was  run  over  on 
the  retreat  at  Belmont.  The  fatherly  kindness  of  our  then 
Capt.  Taylor.  Many  events  come  freshly  to  mind  of  which  I 
cannot  now  speak.  Hoping  the  comrades  will  have  a  pleasant 
reunion.  I  remain  yours  in  F.  L.  C., 

G.  R.  VANHORN. 

ST.  PAUL,  MINN.,  Oct.  28,  1886. 
MR.  C.  W.  PIERCE,  Chicago, 

DEAR  SIR:  I  am  in  receipt  of  the  very  kind  invitation  to 
attend  the  reunion  and  banquet  of  Battery  B,  November  6th,  to 
celebrate  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Belmont.  I  re- 
gret exceedingly  that  I  will  be  unable  to  be  present,  especially 
so,  as  I  have  every  reason  to  feel  a  particular  interest  in  that 
engagement.  I  hope  that  the  gathering  will  be  in  every  way 
enjoyable.  I  am  constantly  reminded  of  the  pleasant  time  passed 
with  the  Battery,  by  having  in  my  room  several  pictures  taken 
at  Birds  Point,  one  being  of  Squad  3,  taken  while  at  breakfast. 
Very  truly  yours,  G.  Q.  WHITE. 

ST.  CHARLES,  MICH.,  Oct.  30,  1886. 
C.  W.  PIERCE,  ESQ.,  Chicago,  111. 

MY  DEAR  OLD  COMRADE:  I  have  delayed  the  acknow- 
ledgement of  the  invitation  to  the  reunion  and  banquet  of 
Taylor's  Battery,  hoping  to  say  definitely,  yes  or  no:  I  am  yet 
anything  but  positive.  But  expect  to  be  able  to  be  with  you; 
should  anything  prevent,  I  will  write  a  few  lines  to  represent 
my  deep  and  abiding  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  our  O'ld 
•soldier  experiences.  Very  truly  yours,  D.  F.  CHASE. 


96  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

YANKTON,  DAK.,  Oct.  28,  1886. 
EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE,  Battery  B,  ist  111.  Artillery. 

GENTLEMEN:  I  regret  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  on  the 
occasion  of  your  annual  reunion  to  renew  the  friendship  of  hon- 
ored comrades.  Twenty-five  years  have  passed,  but  our  hearts 
are  still  drawn  closely  together  by  love  of  country,  and  by  the 
remembrance  of  sacrifices  which  it  was  our  privilege  to  share 
with  each  other  for  the  common  good. 

May  every  old  soldier  by  right  living,  command,  and  receive 
the  increasing  honors  with  which  the  passing  years  shall  enrich 
their  memories. 

With  great  respect,  your  comrade,  E.  P.  WILCOX. 

ELGIN,  ILLS.,  Nov.  2,  1886. 
MR.  C.  W.  PIERCE, 

DEAR  COMRADE:  Just  received  word  that  will  take  me  to 
St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Nov.  4th,  and  cannot  possibly  return  before 
next  week.  Kindly  present  my  regards  to  all  the  boys. 

Yours  truly,        J.  F.  WHITTLE. 

GENEVA,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4,  1886. 
EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE, 

Battery  B,  ist  111.  Artillery,  Chicago,  111. 

GENTLEMEN:  Your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the 
reunion  of  the  old  members  of  Battery  B,  to  be  held  Nov.  6th 
next,  duly  received,  with  many  thanks.  I  have  delayed 
acknowledging  receipt  of  same,  hoping  I  could  so  shape  my 
affairs  as  to  accept,  but  find  I  cannot  consistently  do  so. 

Again  thanking  you  for  your  kind  remembrance,  and  with 
best  wishes  and  kindest  regards  to  my  old  comrades  of  the  Bat- 
tery, I  remain  Sincerely  yours,  S.  P.  COE. 

PEORIA,  ILL.,  Nov.  4,  1886. 
EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE, 

Battery  B,  ist  111.  Artillery,  Chicago,  111. 
DEAR  COMRADES:  I  sincerely  regret  that  I  cannot  be  with 
you  on  the  6th.  I  have  deferred  writing  till  this  time,  hoping 
I  could  arrange  to  be  with  you;  but  I  find  it  impossible.  "The 
spirit  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak."  I  suppose  there  isn't  a 
day  in  the  year,  that  I  do  not  think  of  my  army  life,  and  the 
old  Battery  boys;  and,  especially  when  attending  the  G.  A.  R. 


REUNION'  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  0,7 

meetings,  where  I  meet  a  great  number  of  the  r/th  Illinois  ancf 
8th  Missouri  boys.  I  never  meet  them  without  having  some 
incident  of  our  campaigns  brought  up;  I  find  they  havn't  forgot- 
ten the  old  Battery,  and  seem  to  feel  the  same  pride  in  it,  as  when 
they  helped  to  pull  the  old  gun  off  at  Shiloh,  or  supported  us 
at  Donelson,  Vicksburg,  etc.  I  find  also  that  about  every  old 
soldier  in  the  western  army  remembers  and  reveres  the  name  of 
Taylor's  Battery;  and  the  mention  of  the  fact,  that  a  person  be- 
longed to  it,  is  an  open  sesame  to  their  respect  and  friendship. 
I  sing  to-night  for  a  G.  A.  R.  entertainment,  which  will  per- 
haps remind  you  of  Moore,  McCoy,  Wilcox,  Sherwood  and 
others  of  musical  turn,  and  of  the  songs  of  yore.  With  respects 
to  all  and  a  wish  for  your  enjoyment  of  the  evening. 
I  remain  yours  in  Fraternity,  Charity  and  Loyalty, 

G.  T.  HATCH 

C.  \V.  PIERCE,  ST.  ANTHONY,  IOWA,  Nov.  i,  1886, 

DEAR  COMRADE:     I  expected  to  be  with  you   the   6th,  but 

circumstances  over  which  I  have  no  control  make  it  impossible. 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  disappointed    I   am  in   not  being  able  to 

meet  with  you. 

Remember  me  kindly  to  all  who  may    enquire    after  yours 

respectfully, 

A.  J.  PALMER. 

LA  CROSSE,  Wis.,  Oct.  27,  1886. 
FRIEND  AND  OLD  COMRADE  PIERCE: 

The  invitation  to  the  banquet  on  Nov.  6th  next,  (being  the 
Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Belmont,)  duly  re- 
ceived. 

I  shall  surely  be  in  Chicago  to  meet  you  and  all  the  "  Old 
Boys"  whom  the  "Gods"  have  preserved  so  well. 

Kindest  regards  to  all  who  once  composed  "  Taylor's 
Battery." 

Your  friend, 

CHAS.  TURNER. 

FRIEND  CHARLES:  AURORA,  ILL.,  Oct.  28,  1886. 

I  have  received  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  reunion 
and  banquet,  and  will  be  very  happy  to  meet  the  old  comrades 
once  more.  We  are  few,  and  our  ranks  are  growing  less  every 


98  REUNION  OK   TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

year.  I  can  think  of  some  that  have  passed  away  since  our  last 
reunion,  it  will  not  be  many  years  before  we  will  have  all  passed 
through  the  valley. 

If  nothing  prevents  I  will  try  and  be  with  you. 

B.  F.  STEPHENS. 

ESSEX  HOUSE,  Nov.  2,  1886. 
C.  W.  PIERCE, 

DEAR  SIR:  Have  delayed  writing  to  see  if  I  could  make 
the  visit,  but  circumstances  will  not  allow  me  the  great  pit  asure. 
Give  my  sincere  regards  and  good  wishes  to  the  boys;  tell 
them  tho'  growing  old  in  years  I  have  the  same  patriotic  zeal 
for  our  loved  land,  and  tho'  not  with  them  in  person,  in  thought 
I  will  be  there,  and  wish  I  could  add  my  quota  of  reminiscences 
of  the  dreadful  but  glorious  past. 

Hoping  to  meet  them  all  in  the  near  future  on  some  equally 
pleasant  reunion,  I  remain, 

Yours  very  truly, 

W.  H.  BRADBURY. 

DILLON,  MONTANA,  Oct.  31,  1886. 
To  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE  AND  ALL  COMRADES 

ASSEMBLED. 

GENTLEMEN  :  I  sincerely  regret  my  inability  to  accept 
your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  your  reunion  to  celebrate 
the  25th  Anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Belmont.  Nothing 
would  have  afforded  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  have  met  my 
old  comrades  once  more  on  such  an  occasion  as  that,  but  lack  of 
time  and  the  great  distance  between  here  and  Chicago  is  the 
only  reason  for  my  non-attendance. 

I  trust  that  you  will  have  a  delightful    and    enjoyable    time 

together,  and  also  hope  you  will  think  of  me,  as  well  as  I  do  of 

all  those  assembled  on  the  evening  of  Nov.  6th.     With  the  best 

and  kindest  of  wishes  for  you  all,  old  comrades,!  remain  as  ever, 

Your  old  Friend  and  Comrade, 

OTIIO  KLEMM. 

AMBOY,  Ills.,  Nov.  4,  1886. 

DEAR  COMRADES:  It  is  with  the  greatest  reluc'ance  that 
I  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  this  meeting,  but  though  "absent 
in  body  I  am  with  you  in  spirit,"  living  over  in  memory  those 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  99 

days  of  privation,  gladly  risking  life  for  our  country.    All  honor 
to  our  fallen  comrades. 

Truly  your  comrade, 

ABEL  OUSEY. 

CHICAGO,  Nov.  4,  1886. 
MR.  C.  W.  PIERCE, 

DEAR  COMRADE:  The  invitation  to  attend  a  reunion  and 
banquet  in  commemoration  of  the  battle  of  Belmont,  is  duly  at 
hand.  I  have  waited  with  my  answer  until  now  in  the  hope 
that  I  would  be  able  to  attend,  but  find  that  circumstances  over 
which  I  have  no  control  will  prevent  me. 

With  regard,  I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

XILES  T.  QUALES. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  Nov.  i,  1886. 
C.  W.  PIERCE,  ESQ.,  Battery  B,  ist  111.  Artillery. 

DEAR  SIR  AND  COMRADE:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknow- 
ledge the  receipt  of  the  notice  of  the  reunion  and  banquet  to  be 
held  by  the  old  Battery  boys  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel  the  6th 
inst. 

It  is  with  profound  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  be  present  on 
the  occasion  named,  but  two  thousand  miles  and  repeat  is  not 
so  easily  accomplished,  even  in  these  days  of  progress  and 
rapid  transit,  especially  when  we  have  claims  upon  us  at  home. 
To  my  knowledge  there  are  no  other  members  of  the  Battery 
in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  it  would  afford  me  much  pleasure 
to  represent  the  Golden  State  at  the  reunion. 

How  I  should  love  to  look  in  upon  the  "boys,"  hear  many 
"  chestnuts"  that  will  be  cracked,  the  thrilling  speeches,  the  re- 
newed pledges  of  Fidelity  and  Loyalty,  and  to  clasp  my  com- 
rades by  the  hands,  bidding  God  speed  to  them  all. 

Please  convey  my  best  wishes  for  the  health,  prosperity  and 
long  life  of  each  individual  member. 

Very  respectfully  and  sincerely, 

JOHN  T.  CUTTING. 

SENECA,  ILL.,  Nov.  28,  1886. 
DEAR  COMRADES: 

It  will  be  impossible  to  attend  the  reunion;  my  wife  is  sick 
and  two  of  my  boys  have  to  be  at  home  all  the  time.  I  regret 


ioo  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

very  much  that  I  cannot   come.      Give  my   regards   to   all   the 
boys,  tell  them  I  will  be  with  them  at  some  future  time. 

I  have  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.  I  live  four  miles  east 
of  Seneca,  on  a  farm  of  300  acres. 

Yours  truly, 

JOHN  GRAHAM,  Commander  of  Seneca  Post  324,  G.  A.  R. 

CALIFORNIA, -Mo.,  Oct.  26,  1886. 
COMPANY  B,  ist  111.  Artillery. 

DEAR  COMRADES:  With  gratitude  I  acknowledge  your 
kindness  in  remembering  me,  and  desiring  my  attendance  at  the 
reunion  to  be  held  on  the  6th  inst. ;  although  it  will  be  impos- 
sible for  me  to  meet  with  you  in  body,  yet  in  spirit  I  shall  be 
there.  How  fresh  comes  to  my  mind  the  scenes  of  that  memor- 
able day,  and  while  (I  think  with  pardonable  pride)  I  recall 
those  scenes,  and  the  gallant  conduct  of  our  men  under  fire  for 
the  first  time,  yet,  amid  all  the  pleasant  recollections  connected 
with  it,  there  comes  a  feeling  of  sadness  as  I  remember  that  on 
that  fated  field  fell  one  of  Illinois'  favorite  sons — the  gallant 
Everett;  in  the  prime  of  early  manhood,  and  with  talent  and 
ability  to  rise  high  in  the  esteem  and  affections  of  his  fellows,  he 
offered  it  all  as  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  his  country;  gone,  but 
not  forgotten,  his  noble  deeds,  and  the  greatness  of  his  nature, 
will  ever  live  (as  will  the  other  noble  dead  of  Company  B)  in 
the  hearts  of  his  comrades;  although  our  numbers  are  growing 
less,  let  us  so  live,  that  when  the  roll  call  is  sounded  at  the  great 
reunion  on  the  other  side,  we  will  be  ready  to  answer  to  our 
names.  With  love  and  kind  wishes  to  all,  I  remain  as  ever, 
your  comrade  and  friend, 

J.  W.  FRAZER. 

OUR  HONORED  DEAD. 

Response  by  H.  W.  DUDLEY. 

MR.  CHAIRMAN   AND  COMRADES: 

To  me  has  been  assigned  the  duty  and  privilege  of  respond- 
ing to  this  toast,  "  Our  honored  dead."  It  would  almost  seem 
that  the  words  in  which  the  toast  is  framed  were  sufficiently 
expressive  of  our  feelings,  but  the  occasion  warrants,  and  the 
promptings  of  our  united  hearts  demand,  that  we  should  lay 
anew  the  tribute  of  our  affectionate  remembrance  upon  the 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  101 

graves  of  those  who,  being  not  unmindful  of  their  country's  need, 
in  her  hour  of  peril,  responded  to  her  call,  and  as  our  comrades 
and  friends,  in  the  camp,  on  the  march,  or  field  of  battle,  filled 
up  to  the  full,  the  measure  of  patriotic  soldiers,  and  have  been 
summoned  by  the  great  commander  to  the  roll  call  above. 

It  is  fitting  and  proper,  that,  gathered  as  we  are  around  this 
bounteous  board,  we  should  recall  those  great  hearts,  to  whom 
no  sacrifice  was  too  great  in  behalf  of  our  beloved  land,  and  who 
valued  not  even  their  lives  when  the  call  of  duty  came. 

What  a  «flood  of  memories  crowd  upon  us  as  we  call  up  the 
names  of  the  departed,  some  of  whom  fell  in  the  shock  of  battle, 
while  others,  grievously  wounded,  lingered  in  patient  suffering 
until  nature  was  forced  to  surrender  and  they  yielded  up  their 
noble  spirits.  Still  others,  stricken  by  dire  disease,  resulting 
from  the  privations  and  exposures  of  camp  life  were  called  upon 
to  suffer  in  rude  hospitality,  with  no  mother,  wife  or  sister's 
loving  voice  and  helping  hands  to  cheer  the  weary  hours,  until 
in  weakness,  and  while  longing  for  home,  they  wasted  into 
eternity.  Others,  more  fortunate,  were  permitted  to  return  to 
their  homes  and  the  hearts  of  their  loved  ones,  to  bask  for  a 
time  in  the  sunshine  of  that  peace  which  they  were  in  part  per- 
mitted to  hasten  and  accomplish. 

In  view  of  the  wide  and  long  separations  incident  to  our 
diversified  lives,  doubtless  some  of  our  number  have  encountered 
the  scythe  of  the  great  reaper,  without  our  knowledge,  and  in 
giving  you  the  record  which  I  do,  it  is  with  the  desire  that  its 
incompleteness  may  be  the  object  of  your  solicitude,  to  the  end 
that  so  far  as  possible  we  may  have  a  perfect  roster  of  our  dead. 

The  first  of  our  number  to  be  called  was  S.  C.  P.  Bogue, 
who  was  killed  in  a  R.  R.  accident  near  Chicago,  while  tempor- 
arily absent  from  his  company,  and  before  the  full  meaning  of 
war  was  comprehended.  Although  he  fell  not  on  the  field  of 
glory,  we  doubt  not  that  the  spirit  which  prompted  his  offer  of 
himself  to  his  country,  would  have  stimulated  him  to  brave  and 
heroic  action  in  the  day  of  battle. 

Not  long  afterwards  came  the  day  and  battle  we  to-night 
celebrate,  when  we  were  called  to  lay  upon  the  altar  of  our 
country,  one  of  our  bravest  and  best.  Who  of  us  can  ever  for- 
get the  gentle,  genial,  and  yet  courageous  and  manly  Charlie 


loz  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

Everett,  who  grievously  wounded  during  the  conflict,  was 
brought  in  a  special  car,  by  the  R.  R.  Co.  which  he  had  for- 
merly faithfully  served,  to  his  home  on  the  banks  of  our  historic 
and  lovely  lake,  here  to  linger  a  few  days,  and  then  to  die,  the 
first  offering  of  our  company  to  the  God  of  battles.  His  was  a 
noble  nature  and  his  future  was  bright  with  promises,  but  the 
call  of  duty  came,  and  like  a  true  soldier  he  leaped  to  its  fulfill- 
ment, which  involved  the  sacrifice  we  mourn. 

Engraved  upon  the  tablets  of  your  memories,  no  less  than 
upon  the  enduring  granite  at  Rose  Hill,  are  the  last  words, 
so  full  of  patriotic  fire  and  love  of  country,  of  him  whose  manly 
form  and  fresh  beautiful  face  rises  before  us  as  we  name  the 
hero,  Oscar  Beckers.  His  was  a  devotion  to  country  that  found 
expression  in  the  conscientious  discharge  of  every  duty  pertain- 
ing to  the  soldiers'  life,  and  was  the  burden  of  his  thoughts 
while  his  life  blood  ebbed  away  at  Donelson,  as  while  being 
tenderly  carried  from  the  field  by  some  of  you,  he  coined  those 
words  which  have  been  an  inspiration  to  us,  his  comrades, 
through  all  these  intervening  years,  "  I  die  for  liberty,  go  back 
boys  and  man  the  guns." 

Who  can  estimate  the  value  to  coming  generations,  passing 
in  review  before  the  battery  monument  in  our  beautiful  ceme- 
tery, which  commemorates  our  fallen  comrades,  of  these  words 
of  him  who  so  early  in  life,  and  so  early  in  our  great  conflict, 
proved  the  sincerity  of  his  devotion  to  liberty,  and  left  for  us 
and  the  world,  so  immortal  a  heritage. 

Hardly  had  the  guns  of  Fort  Donelson  ceased  to  echo  when 
on  the  Hospital  Boat  at  the  landing,  the  light  of  life  went  out 
for  comrade  Geo.  F.  Kingsley,  who  while  not  of  rugged 
physical  form,  was  ever  faithful  and  true. 

On  Shiloh's  bloody  field  was  laid  to  rest  the  form  of  Albert 
J.  Putz,  whose  vigorous  manhood  and  quiet  earnestness,  in  the 
perform ance  of  a  soldier's  duty  had  impressed  us  all.  Faithful 
unto  death  was  the  record  which  he  left,  and  who  can  ask  a 
better? 

Another  of  our  number  at  the  same  time  having  lost,  be- 
cause of  severe  illness,  the  light  of  reason,  walked  without  hin- 
drance from  the  Hospital  boat,  into  the  cold  and  cruel  waters  of 
the  Tennessee,  and  thus  Benj.  F.  Johnson  passed  from  our  sight. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  103 

Early  in  the  history  of  our  soldier  life  there  was  called  from 
our  ranks,  to  official  prominence  in  the  eastern  army,  one,  who 
during  his  brief  experience  with  us,  had  entwined  himself 
around  our  hearts,  as  perhaps  at  the  time,  no  other  had,  because 
of  his  soldierly  bearing,  and  active  interest  that  pertained  to  the 
common  good.  We  parted  from  him  with  mingled  feelings  of 
sorrow  and  gladness,  sorrow  at  our  loss,  and  gladness  that  his 
merit  had  been  recognized  in  his  promotion.  We  could  not  but 
consider  him  one  of  us,  and  watched  his  career  with  eager  in- 
terest until  in  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  May  5th,  1862,  Wm. 
De  Wolfe  passed  from  mortal  sight. 

There  rise  up  now  before  us  the  familar  features  of  three  of 
our  number,  who  during  the  historic  Siege  of  Vicksburg,  yield- 
ed up  their  lives,  sealing,  almost  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
their  devotion  to  their  country  in  their  life's  blood,  as  it  rapidly 
flowed  away.  One  of  them,  the  fearless  and  faithful  Fred 
Thompson,  who  in  his  adopted  country,  proved  the  same  heroic 
soldier  as  when,  unrolled  under  the  banner  of  St.  George,  he 
had  followed  to  victory  the  standard  of  his  native  land. 

Another  was  the  young,  quiet  and  cultured  Douglass  K. 
Newell,  whose  lithe  form  and  beautiful  face  were  the  envy  of 
us  all,  while  the  third,  Henry  T.  Henrotin,  proved  to  the  last  his 
fitness  to  be  enrolled  a  soldier. 

Another  of  our  company  who  was  deemed  fit  for  transfer 
into  a  higher  field  of  action,  went  to  the  command  of  a  battery 
of  colored  light  artillery,  and  in  the  hotly  contested  battle  of 
Helena,  July  26,  1864,  was  numbered  with  the  slain,  a  tireless 
and  faithful  soldier  with  us,  Capt.  J.  T.  Lembke  proved  capable 
and  brave  in  his  new  field  of  action,  doing  with  intelligent 
loyalty  the  work  to  which  he  was  called. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  war  was  fought  the  battle  of 
Atlanta,  during  which  we  were  called  upon  to  part  with  four 
more  of  those  who  through  the  previous  years  had  stood  by  our 
sides  in  camp  and  conflict,  doing  well  the  duty  which  was  im- 
po<ed  upon  them,  even  unto  the  end,  when  in  the  storm  of  bat- 
tle on  July  2Oth,  1864,  they  answered  the  summons  of  the  grim 
messenger,  and  panoplied  in  a  soldier's  garb,  they  passed  to  a 
soldier's  reward. 

To  you,  their  comrades,  it  seems  almost  unnecessary   to  re- 


104  REUNION  OK  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

call   the   names   of  Jacob   Dealman,  Alex   Beidleman,  Jno.  P. 
Chalman  and  Sam'l  Hadlock. 

What  shall  I  say  of  those  who  through  pain  and  suffering 
went  down  to  the  grave  through  the  portals  of  the  hospital,  be- 
fore the  dawn  of  that  peace,  for  which  they  had  striven  during 
months  and  possibly  years  of  sacrifice.  Brave  soldiers  were 
they  all,  loving  life,  most  of  them  with  a  passion  born  of  youth 
and  promise,  and  yet  without  complaint,  yielding  it  up  in  the 
fulfillment  of  that  purpose  to  which  they  had  dedicated  them- 
selves, in  order  that  their  country  might  live.  As  we  call  up 
their  names  before  us,  we  rejoice  in  the  fellowships  once  had, 
and  the  memories  which  thickly  cluster  around  them.  All 
honor  to  Timothy  M.  Blaisdell,  Chas.  L.  Harrington,  Fred 
Johnson,  Chas.  Krause,  John  Chatfield,  Jr.,  Chas.  Kinsman, 
John  Mustard,  Ora  McBride,  Wm.  B.  Mclntosh,  Wm.  R. 
Rogers,  Abner  A.  Rhodes,  Jno.  F.  Strangberg,  Ben.  M. 
Warner  and  Z.  M.  Ball. 

"Alas!   how  few  came  hack 
From  battle  and  from  wrack; 
Alas  !   how  many  lie  beneath  a  southern  sky, 
"Who  never  heard  the  fearful  fight  was  done, 
And  all  they   fought  for  won. 
Sweeter,  I  think  their  sleep, 
More  peaceful  and  more  deep, 

Could  they  but  know  their  wounds  were  not  in  vain. 
Could  they  but  hear  the  grand  triumphant  strain, 
And  see  their  homes  unmarred  by  hostile  tread. 
Ah  !   let  us  trust  it  is  so  with  our  dead — 
That  they  the  thrilling  joy  of  triumph  feel, 
And  in  that  joy,  disdain  the  foeman's  steel." 

In  the  years  which  have  intervened  since  doffing  the  blue 
garb  of  the  soldier,  one  b}  one,  our  remaining  members  have 
been  summoned  from  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  earth,  to 
take  their  stand  before  the  Supreme  Judge  of  nations  and  indi- 
viduals, our  eyes  search  in  vain  to-night  for  the  f amilar  faces  of 
those  who  gathered  with  us  around  the  banqueting  boards  of 
the  old  Revere  House,  where,  welcomed  home  by  the  city  of  our 
pride,  in  the  midst  of  fragrant  flowers,  entrancing  music,  burn- 
ing eloquence  and  toothsome  viands,  we  renewed  our  pledges  of 
patriotism  and  love  of  country,  while  resuming  again  our  places 
in  the  ranks  of  her  citi/.ens. 


Geo.  P.  Kenny,  Peter  M.Johnson, 

Sergt.  Geo.  L.  Purinton, 
A.  H.  Biedleman,  W.  W.  McLaughlin. 


Michael  Bauer,  Jno.  D.  Sattler. 

Wm.  Taylor, 
Corpl.  Chas.  G.  Henney,  Jno.  Herrick. 


R.  N.  Hull,  Jno.  W.  Frazer, 

Jacob  Dealman, 
Corpl.  Albert  Dickinson,  J.  M.  Vernon. 


Vincenz* Smith,  \Vm.  B.  Mclntosh, 

H.  W.  Dudley, 
Jno.  Chatfield,  Jr.,  Arthur  Burnam. 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  105 

They  have  passed  from  our  sight,  many  of  them  we  have 
followed  with  mournful  steps  .to  the  last  resting-place  of  mor- 
tality ,and  with  tender  hands  consigned  them  to  their  mother  earth. 

Others,  having  chosen  their  homes  in  distant  places,  have 
closed  their  eyes  to  the  world  surrounded  by  other  than  soldier 
comrades,  mourned  doubtless  not  less  sincerely  by  those  endear- 
ed to  them  by  later  ties.  All  of  these  names  would  I  in  tender- 
ness bring  up  before  you  to-night,  that  they  may  fill  in  the 
niches  of  memory's  walls,  the  places,  I  am  sure  your  affection 
has  appropriately  reserved. 

The  tragic  death  of  our  Lieut.,  Levi  W.  Hart,  who  went 
•down  in  that  awful  wreck  at  Ashtabula,  Dec.  3oth,  1876;  of 
Corporal  Wm.  Chandler,  who  was  thrown  from  his  carriage  in 
Cleveland  and  killed,  of  Howard  Gushing,  killed  while  an 
officer  in  the  regular  army  in  a  battle  with  the  Indians,  deserve 
our  special  mention,  while  sooner  or  later  the  call  came  in  one 
way  or  another  to  Wm.  F.  Jackson,  H.  Nelson  Towner,  Abram 
Heartt,  Wm.  N.  Taylor,  Thos.  E.  Taylor,  Isaac  Watts,  Sam'l 
T.  Wentworth,  Dan'l  P.  Young,  Walter  Sherwood,  Dan'l  W. 
Sheldon,  Edward  Speer,  Wm.  J.  Stevens,  Horace  Reed,  Fred 
C.  Russell,  Henry  F.  Lines,  Wm.  Hea,  Jr.,  Chas.  G.  Henney, 
Andrew  J.  Grant,  Sim.  Y.  Prince,  James  B.  Easson,  Thos.  J. 
Ashbrook,  Wm.  D.  Crego,  Wm.  Blakie,  Chas.  Edwards,  Jno. 
C.  Hadlock,  Walter  Hinman,  W.  W.  Lowrie,  Myron  C.  Ross, 
John  D.  Satler,  Walter  Simpson,  Walter  Sherman,  Wm.  W. 
Breckbill,  Edwin  Bancroft,  Sam'l  D.  Newton,  Jno.  A.  Mason, 
Nelson  Crampton,  Frank  Crampton.  Almost  last  of  all,  and 
only  a  little  over  a  year  ago,  our  well  beloved  first  commander, 
dear  old  Capt.  Taylor,  was  wafted  from  the  scenes  of  his  long 
and  heroic  service  in  the  battle  of  life,  to  the  well-earned  rest, 
we  trust,  of  a  heavenly  home.  Those  of  us  who  were  permit- 
ted from  time  to  time  to  meet  the  old  hero,  could  not  but  observe 
for  months  his  growing  feebleness,  and  we  felt  that  the  wound, 
received  in  his  country's  service,  coupled  with  the  care  and 
anxiety  incident  to  the  whirl  of  city  life,  were  hastening  him  on 
with  accelerated  speed  to  the  close  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage; 
and  so  he  died,  the  noble  old  commander,  leaving  for  us  a  bright 
example  of  lofty  heroism,  which  I  trust  will  prove  to  each  an 
inspiration  while  life  endures. 


io6  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

At  our  last  reunion,  six  years  ago,  in  this  very  place,  we 
looked  into  the  eyes  of  many  whose  places  are  vacant  to-night, 
and  so  the  Reaper  will  come  and  go,  until  we  all  shall  lay  aside 
the  implements  of  earthly  warfare  and  take  our  places  in  the 
silent  halls  of  death. 

Be  it  therefore  ours  who  survive  to  participate  in  coming  re- 
unions, to  cherish  with  ever-increasing  interest,  as  our  numbers 
grow  less,  the  memory  of  those,  who  one  by  one  have  been 
called  before;  and  as  from  time  to  time  in  this  pleasant  way, 
we  fight  over  again  our  earthly  battles,  let  us  each  so  live  that 
in  the  last  great  conflict,  we  may  attain  unto  the  victory,  which 
by  right  belongs,  and  has  been  promised  to  him,  who,  under 
the  blood  red  banner  of  the  cross,  marches  with  fidelity  and 
patriotic  love,  keeping  step  to  the  music  of  Heaven,  while  our 
hearts  are  enchanted  by  the  bright  visions  of  dear  ones  gone 
before,  who,  with  eager  faces  and  outstretched  arms  beckon  us 
on  to  the  delights  of  the  heavenly  home. 


GEN'L  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE'S  REPORT  OF  THE  BATTLE 
OF  FORT  DONELSON. 

HEADQUARTERS  2nd  BRIGADE, 

ISt    DIVISION    U.    S.  ADVANCE     FORCES. 

FORT  DONELSON,  Tenn.,  Feb.  lyth,  1862. 
MAJ.  M.  BRAYMAN, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Genl.,  ist  Division. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of 
the  operations  of  my  brigade  from  the  time  of  leaving  Fort 
Henry  on  the  i  ith  inst.  up  to  the  i6th  inst.  when  the  Federal 
forces  entered  this  fortification. 

My  brigade  as  formed  by  order  of  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  com- 
manding the  district  of  Cairo,  consisting  of  the  iith  111. 
Infantry,  Lieut.  Col.  T.  E.  G.  Ransom  commanding;  the 
2oth  111.  Infantry,  Col.  C.  C.  Marsh  commanding;  the 
45th  111.  Infantry,  Col.  John  E.  Smith  commanding;  the 
48th  111.  Infantry,  Col.  I.  N.  Haynie  commanding;  the 
4th  111.  Cavalry,  Col.  T.  Lyle  Dickey  commanding;  Capt. 
Ezra  Taylor's  four  six-pounder  field  guns,  and  two  twelve - 
pounder  howitzers,  and  Capt.  E.  McAllister's  battery  of  three 
twenty-four  pounder  howitzers,  (  ist  111.  Artillery )  the  whole 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  107 

constituting  the  second  brigade  of  the  ist  division,  commanded 
by  Brig.  Gen.  Jno.  A.  McClernand,  and  containing  about  3,400 
effective  men  of  all  arms. 

About  noon  on  the  i  ith  inst.  while  in  camp  at  Ft.  Henry,  I 
received  orders  from  Gen.  McClernand  to  put  the  infantry  and 
artillery  of  my  brigade  on  the  march,  and  move  out  three  or 
four  miles  on  the  "  Telegraph  road  "  towards  this  place.  At 
about  4  P.  M.  the  forces  designated  marched  out  and  encamped 
on  the  road  four  miles  from  Ft.  Henry.  At  sunrise  on  the 
next  day  (the  I2th  inst.)  I  was  joined  by  Col.  Dickey's  cavalry 
and  marched  with  my  whole  comm  md  by  the  Telegraph  road 
toward  Ft.  Donelson,  keeping  up  frequent  communication  with 
Col.  Oglesby's  ist  brigade,  which  was  moving  at  the  same  time 
by  the  ridge  road,  Col.  Dickey's  cavalry  thoroughly  reconnoi- 
tering  the  country  as  the  column  marched.  Soon  after  noon  I 
came  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  encampment  on  the  opposite  side 
of  a  creek  about  a  mile  in  advance.  Having  caused  the  road  to 
be  reconnoitered  and  finding  the  creek  impassable  on  account  of 
backwater  from  the  Cumberland,  I  moved  to  the  right  up  the 
creek  and  effected  a  junction  with  Col.  Oglesby's  brigade  in  the 
low  grounds  west  of  Ft.  Donelson,  where  heavy  wrooded  hills 
intervened  between  us  and  the  enemy's  position.  Col.  Dickey's 
cavalry  was  again  thrown  forward  and  reconnoitered  the 
ground  in  front.  Col.  Oglesby's  brigade  moved  up  the  Paris 
road  to  the  south  of  Fort  Donelson,  while  I  threw  my  brigade 
by  its  front  on  to  the  heights,  dragging  the  artillery  up  the  steepr 
wooded  hills.  After  further  reconnoitering  the  brigade  ad- 
vanced and  occupied  a  ridge  south-west  of  the  center  of  the 
enemy's  fortification,  with  its  right  resting  on  the  left  of  CoL 
Oglesby's  brigade.  Some  slight  skirmishing  occurred  here, 
and  after  resting  in  the  position  an  hour  or  more,  and  further 
reconnoitering  in  accordance  with  orders  from  Gen.  McCler- 
nand I  moved  the  brigade  by  the  right  flank,  following  Col. 
Oglesby's  brigade,  across  the  valley,  towards  the  left  of  the 
enemy's  position.  By  this  time  it  was  dark,  and  Col.  Ogles- 
by's right  becoming  involved  in  ground  which  had  not  been 
reconnoitered,  and  which  was  very  hilly  and  covered  with  a 
dense  growth  of  underbrush,  I  was  ordered  by  the  General 
commanding  the  division  to  return  to  the  position  on  the  west  of 


io8  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

the  valley,  which  I  did,  moving  by  the  left  flank,  when  my 
brigade  rested  for  the  night. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  the  enemy  opened 
fire  with  his  artillery  from  the  middle  redoubt.  Soon  after- 
wards, by  order  of  Gen.  McClernand,  I  marched  the  i  ith,  2Oth, 
45th  regiments,  and  Taylor's  battery,  to  the  right  across  the  val- 
ley, leaving  McAllister's  battery  supported  by  the  481!!  111.  on  the 
ridge  west  of  the  valley,  and  ordered  Col.  Dickey's  cavalry  to 
move  in  rear,  with  detatchments  thrown  toward  the  right  to 
rcconnoiter  toward  the  Cumberland  and  Dover.  Reaching  the 
high  grounds  east  of  the  valley,  Taylor's  battery  was  put  in 
position  on  the  road  leading  up  to  Dover,  where  the  left  of  the 
enemy's  line  rested  behind  earthworks  and  intrenchments 
strengthened  by  strong  abbattis  in  front.  The  whole  force 
continued  to  move  steadily  to  the  right,  Col.  Oglesby's  brigade 
leading,  the  artillery  of  his  brigade  and  Taylor's  battery  mov- 
ing on  the  road,  while  the  infantry  was  in  rear  of  and  near  the 
road.  Along  this  road  the  artillery  advanced,  taking  successive 
positions  to  the  right,  and  keeping  up  a  constant  cannonade  on 
the  enemy's  works  on  the  right  and  middle  redoubt  across  the 
valley.  The  open  space  afforded  a  fine  opportunity  for  artillery 
practice  at  long  range,  and  Taylor's,  Swartz's,  and  Dresser's 
guns,  warmly  returned  by  those  of  the  enemy  in  the  middle  re- 
doubt and  the  works  on  his  left,  presented  a  rare  example  of 
the  use  of  that  arm  of  the  service. 

About  noon  I  was  ordered  by  Gen.  McClernand  to  detach 
the  38th  regt.  (Col.  Haynie)  to  operate  with  the  i7th  111. 
(Maj.  Smith's  command)  and  the  49th  111.  (Col.  Morrison)  of 
the  3rd  brigade,  in  making  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  middle  re- 
doubt on  the  hill  west  of  the  valley,  supported  by  the  fire  of 
McAllister's  guns.  This  force  was  under  command  of  Col. 
Haynie  as  senior  Colonel.  They  formed  in  line  and  advanced 
in  fine  order  across  the  intervening  ravines,  and  mounted  the 
steep  height  on  which  those  works  are  situated,  in  the  most  gal- 
lant manner,  and  under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  from  the 
enemy  posted  in  the  lines  of  earthwork.  They  advanced  up 
the  hill,  delivering  their  fire  with  coolness  and  precision.  The 
line  not  being  long  enough  to  envelope  the  works,  by  order  of 
Gen.  McClernand,  I  detached  the  45th  111.  (Col.  Smith)  to 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  109 

their  support  on  the  right.  This  regiment  advanced  in  beauti- 
ful order  down  the  slope,  across  the  valley,  and  up  the  opposite 
steep  with  skirmishers  displayed  in  front,  and  were  soon 
warmly  engaged.  These  operations  had  given  the  enemy  time 
to  reinforce  their  position  with  strong  bodies  of  infantry  from 
his  reserves  in  rear,  and  field  artillery,  which  opened  a  destruc- 
tive fire  on  the  advancing  line.  The  roll  of  musketry  showed 
the  enemy  in  powerful  force  behind  his  earthworks,  notwith- 
standing our  own  forces  charged  gallantly  up  the  heights  to 
the  very  foot  of  the  works  which  were  rendered  impassable  by 
the  sharp  and  strong  points  of  brushwood  in  which  it  was  built. 
All  the  regiments  engaged  in  this  daring  attempt  suffered  more 
or  less  from  the  enemy's  fire. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy  began  to  show  himself  in 
strength  in  his  entrenchments  in  front  of  Col.  Oglesby's  brigade. 
Swartz's  battery  was  advanced  along  the  road  to  within  300 
yards  of  the  works,  but  by  being  without  cannister,  they  were 
withdrawn,  and  by  Gen.  McClernand's  order  I  directed  Capt. 
Taylor  to  throw  forward  two  sections  of  his  battery  to  that 
position.  The  position  being  beyond  the  right  of  my  line,  the 
infantry  support  was  to  be  furnished  from  Col.  Oglesby's 
brigade  which  was  immediately  in  the  rear.  These  sections 
took  their  positions  under  a  most  galling  fire  of  rifles  and  mus- 
ketry from  the  enemy's  lines.  The  ground  was  covered  with 
brush,  and  some  time  was  required  to  put  the  guns  in  position, 
and  during  this  time  the  enemy's  fire  was  very  galling,  and 
Taylor's  men  suffered  somewhat  from  its  effects.  As  soon  as 
his  position  was  gained,  however,  the  rapid  and  well-directed 
fire  of  the  sections  soon  silenced  the  enemy.  The  coolness  and 
daring  of  the  officers  and  men  of  these  sections,  directed  by 
Capt.  Taylor  in  person,  are  worthy  of  high  praise. 

The  48th, 45th, 49111  and  iyth  regiments  having  been  ordered 
to  retire  from  the  hill  where  they  had  so  gallantly  assaulted  the 
enemy's  works,  the  45th  and  48th  having  resumed  their  positions 
in  my  line,  and  Col.  Morrison,  commanding  the  i7th  and  49th 
having  been  wounded  in  this  assault,  those  regiments  were  tem- 
porarily attached  to  my  brigade  and  acted  under  my  orders  dur- 
ing the  subsequent  operations  until  noon  of  the  I5th.  The 
night  of  the  I3th  was  one  of  great  suffering  and  hardship  to  the 


iio  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

whole  command.  We  lay  within  point  blank  musket  and  rifle 
range  of  the  enemy's  breastworks,  and  at  dark  a  storm  of  rain, 
soon  turning  to  snow,  and  accompanied  by  severe  blasts,  beat 
upon  our  unprotected  ranks.  The  pickets  of  the  enemy  were 
out  in  strong  force  and  a  constant  firing  between  their 
pickets  and  our  own  was  kept  up  during  the  night.  The  spirits 
of  the  men,  animated  and  encouraged  by  the  conduct  of  the 
officers,  never  flagged,  notwithstanding  they  were  without  tents 
or  fires  and  exposed  to  the  fierce  storm  and  assailed  by  the 
enemy's  shot. 

During  the  night  it  was  evident  that  the  enemy  was  receiv- 
ing large  reinforcements,  and  when  morning  broke  on  the  I4th, 
it  showed  that  they  had  been  busy  during  the  night  in  erecting 
new  works  in  commanding  positions,  and  mounting  them  with 
guns.  McAllister's  battery  was  ordered  from  the  other  side  of 
the  valley  and  put  into  position  on  the  road.  During  this  day 
my  brigade  occupied  a  position  a  little  in  the  rear  of  the  road 
and  under  cover  of  the  brow  of  the  hill,  the  right  resting  on  the 
left  of  Col.  Oglesby's  line  and  being  within  300  or  400  yards  of 
the  salient  angle  of  the  enemy's  works  on  his  left.  We  lay  in 
this  position  most  of  the  day,  the  order  of  the  regiments  from 
right  to  left  being  as  follows:  i  ith,  2oth,  48th,  45th,  49th,  and 
i  yth — Taylor's  battery  was  posted  at  the  interval  between  the 
iyth  and  49th,  and  McAllister's  guns  were  distributed  along 
the  front.  Dickey's  cavalry  was  in  rear  and  to  the  right,  to 
observe  the  enemy  and  guard  the  flank.  Under  instructions 
from  Gen.  McClernand  I  commenced  the  construction  of  a 
small  earthwork  on  the  road  to  cover  three  or  four  guns.  Mr. 
Trisilian,  of  the  49th  regt.,  had  charge  of  the  work,  which  was 
completed  during  the  night  and  two  of  McAllister's  guns  and 
a  lo-pounder  Parrott  rifle  gun  of  the  ist  Missouri  Artillery, 
were  placed  in  it  the  next  morning.  During  the  whole  of  the 
1 4th  a  rambling  and  irregular  fire  of  sharpshooters  was  kept 
up,  varied  by  occasional  discharges  of  artillery.  The  enemy's 
shells  and  round  shot  fell  at  times  thickly  within  my  lines  but 
the  casualties  were  few. 

At  day  break  on  the  morning  of  the  1 5th  the  enemy  threw 
a  heavy  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  supported  by  field  artill- 
ery and  his  batteries  within  the  work,  out  of  his  entrenchments 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  111 

and  commenced  a  vigorous  assault  on  the  right  flank  of  the 
whole  line.  The  attack  was  continued  with  great  spirit,  and 
gradually  drove  back  our  extreme  right.  About  seven  o'clock 
A.  M.  the  nth  and  2oth  111.,  on  my  right,  became  engaged  with 
a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry.  They  charged  up  the 
hill  and  gained  the  road  in  front  of  my  position,  but  the  mo- 
ment the  rebel  flag  appeared  above  the  crest  of  the  hill  a  storm 
of  shot  from  the  iith  and  2Oth  drove  them  back  in  confusion. 
Again  a  new  and  fresh  line  of  infantry  appeared,  and  I  ordered 
the  whole  line,  except  the  iyth  and  the  left  \ving  of  the  49th,  to 
advance  and  occupy  the  hill.  The  iith,  2Oth,  48th  and  45th 
with  a  portion  of  the  49th,  advanced  boldly  and  in  fine  order  to 
the  brow  of  the  hill  where  they  were  exposed,  uncovered,  not 
only  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  infantry,  but  to  a  raking  fire 
from  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries  of  artillery  across  the  valley. 
They  opened  fire  supported  by  Taylor's  battery  and  two  of 
McAllister's  guns  (one  having  been  disabled  by  a  shot  from 
the  enemy's  cannon)  and  for  some  time  the  conflict  was  strong 
and  fierce.  But  at  length  the  strong  masses  of  the  enemy's  in- 
fantry gave  way  before  the  steady,  well-directed  and  continued 
fire  of  the  right  of  my  line.  They  fell  back,  however,  only  to 
give  place  to  another  line  of  fresh  troops  who  advanced  to  their 
support  and  who  were  also  compelled  by  the  steady  unflinch- 
ing valor  of  our  men  to  give  way. 

In  the  meantime  there  were  indications  that  the  enemy 
were  gaining  some  advantages  on  the  right  of  the  whole  line. 
Reinforcements  consisting  of  Kentucky  and  Indiana  troops, 
had  been  sent  forward  past  my  position  to  support  the  right, 
but  notwithstanding  this,  it  became  evident  to  me  from  the 
sounds,  and  from  the  direction  of  the  enemy's  shot  which  be- 
gan to  rake  my  line  from  the  rear  of  my  right,  that  the  right 
of  the  line  was  giving  way.  My  orders  being  peremptory 
to  hold  that  position  of  the  line  occupied  by  my  brigade  to  the 
last  extremity,  I  sent  one  of  my  aides  to  Gen.  McClernand  with 
information  of  the  state  of  affairs,  and  to  express  my  fears  that 
my  right  flank  would  be  completely  turned  unless  re-inforce- 
ments  should  be  speedily  sent  to  that  quarter.  Finding  that 
no  re-inforcements  were  within  reach,  and  Gen.  McClernand 
having  left  me  discretion  to  withdraw  if  I  found  my  position 


112  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

untenable,  and  seeing  that  the  enemy  steadily  advanced  on  my 
right  flank  and  was  speedily  gaining  my  rear,  and  many  of  the 
corps  having  exhausted  their  ammunition,  I  gave  orders  to  move 
the  whole  brigade  to  the  rear  up  the  road  with  a  view  of  form- 
ing a  new  line  of  battle.  Before  this  order  was  given,  all  our 
troops  on  the  right  of  my  brigade  had  fallen  back  except  the 
3ist  111.,  Col.  John  A.  Logan,  who  occupied  the  left  of  CoL 
Oglesby's  brigade.  Immediately  adjoining  the'3istand  on  the 
right  of  my  line  was  the  nth  111.,  Lieut.  Col.  T.  E.  G.  Ran- 
som commanding.  When  the  order  to  retire  was  given  it 
failed  to  reach  Lieut. -Col.  Ransom  who,  with  the  iith  regt., 
was  gallantly  supporting  the  3ist  against  a  fierce  onslaught  on 
their  right.  Rapidly  as  gaps  were  opened  in  the  ranks  by  the 
enemy's  fire,  they  were  as  promptly  closed  to  the  right,  and  the 
shortening  front  alone  showed  the  destructiveness  of  that  fire. 
Soon  the  3ist,  their  ammunition  having  failed,  retired  to  the  rear 
under  a  most  galling  fire,  with  all  the  coolness  and  precision  of 
veterans. 

In  the  meantime  the  order  to  retire  was  being  executed  in 
good  order  by  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  the  character 
of  the  ground  rendering  it  impossible  for  me  to  see  the  whole 
line  at  once,  and  when  the  I  ith  changed  their  front  they  were 
exposed  to  a  fire  in  front  and  on  both  flanks,  and  the  enemy's 
cavalry  charging  upon  their  flank  they  were  thrown  into  some 
confusion  and  retired,  but  steadily  and  in  comparatively  good 
order.  After  falling  back  some  half  a  mile  I  halted  the  brig- 
ade and  as  speedily  as  possible  procured  a  supply  of  ammunition 
and  formed  a  second  line  of  battle.  At  this  point  Col.  Ross  of 
the  lyth  111.  arrived  on  the  field  and  took  command  of  the  (yth 
and  49th  regts.,  and  we  were  reinforced  by  some  troops  of 
Gen.  Lew.  Wallace's  division,  and  with  their  aid  and  the  assis- 
tance of  Taylor's  artillery,  and  some  pieces  of  Dresser's  and 
Willard's  batteries,  the  advance  of  the  enemy  was  checked  and 
he  was  driven  within  his  intrenchments,  leaving  a  large  number 
of  his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field. 

At  night  my  brigade  was  withdrawn  to  a  hill  between  the 
valleys,  so  as  to  be  within  easy  supporting  distance  of  either 
wing,  when  I  rested  until  morning.  With  morning  (the  i6th) 
came  the  news  that  the  enemy  had  surrendered.  The  whole 


REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  113 

brigade  was  instantly  formed  and  marched  down  the  valley 
into  the  center  of  the  enemy's  works,  where  we  hoisted  the 
Union  flag  upon  the  inner  intrenchments  of  the  fort  and  fired  -a 
federal  salute  from  Taylor's  battery.  Dickey's  cavalry  were  so- 
disposed  as  to  cover  all  the  approaches  and  prevent  the  escape 
of  prisoners,  and  rendered  very  effective  service  in  securing  and 
bringing  in  prisoners  during  the  day. 

Would  that  my  task  could  end  here,  with  the  record  of  the 
endurance,  bravery  and  heroism  of  our  troops  crowned,  as  it 
were  with  such  signal  success.  The  loss  of  my  brigade  has 
been  heavy,  as  the  annexed  list  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
will  show.  The  right  of  my  line  was  more  widely  engaged 
on  the  1 5th  than  any  other  portion,  though  all  were  under 
heavy  fire  for  hours.  The  nth  regt.  being  posted  on  the 
right  of  my  line  suffered  more  than  any  other  regiment,  having 
67  killed  on  the  field.  The  2Oth  regt.  which  stood  next  to  the 
nth  was  the  next  heaviest  sufferer,  having  18  killed  on  the 
field.  The  48th,  45th,  49th  and  iyth  suffered  a  considerable 
loss  in  the  operations  of  the  i5th.  In  my  original  brigade  every 
Lieut.  Col.  of  infantry  was'  either  killed  or  wounded  on  the 
1 5th.  Lieut. -Col.  Wm.  Erwin,  of  the  2oth  111.,  while  nobly 
animating  his  men  and  adding  new  laurels  to  those  he  so  nobly 
won  at  Buena  Vista,  was  struck  down  by  a  cannon  shot  from 
the  enemy's  battery.  Lieut. -Col.  Thos.  G.  Smith,  48th  111., 
had  distinguished  himself  in  the  gallant  attack  of  the  I3th,  he 
being  in  command  of  his  regiment  on  that  occasion.  Col. 
Haynie,  as  senior  colonel,-  being  in  command  of  the  whole 
force  detached  on  other  service.  Early  in  the  engagement  of 
the  15*11  Lieut. -Col.  Smith,  while  leading  his  men  up  the  hill 
to  meet  the  enemy,  received  a  mortal  wound,  of  which  he  died 
in  about  an  hour.  Lieut.-Col.  Ransom,  commanding  iith  Ills., 
was  struck  in  the  shoulder  by  a  rflinnie  ball;  merely  calling 
Maj.  Nevins  to  the  command  till  his  wound  could  be  tempo- 
rarily dressed,  he  resumed  the  command  and  remained  with  his 
regiment  throughout  the  day.  Lieut.-Col.  J.  A.  Maltby,  of  the 
45th  regt.,  while  encouraging  and  animating  his  men,  was  shot 
through  the  thigh  and  severely,  though  I  trust  not  fatal lv, 
wounded. 


114  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

I  cannot  find  words  in  which  fittingly  to  express  the  debt  of 
obligation  and  gratitude  I  bear  to  the  officers  commanding 
corps  for  the  prompt,  fearless,  cool  manner  in  which  my  com- 
mands were  carried  out.  In  every  instance  (except  one,  and 
that  resulted  from  the  stupidity  of  an  orderly)  my  orders  were 
perfectly  understood  and  carried  into  effect  with  promptness 
and  perfect  order.  I  have  already  spoken  of  the  part  borne  by 
the  iith  111.  under  Lieut. -Col.  Ransom.  Both  he  and  Maj. 
Nevins  are  deserving  of  the  attention  of  the  department.  Col. 
C.  C.  Marsh,  of  the  2Oth  111.,  exhibited  the  utmost  courage, 
coolness  and  self-possession  on  the  field,  managing  his  men  with 
all  the  order  of  parade.  Maj.  Richards  of  the  2Oth  also  acted 
with  great  bravery.  Col.  Haynie  and  Maj.  Sanford,  of  the 
48th;  Col.  John  E.  Smith  and  Maj.  M.  Smith,  of  the  45th; 
Lieut.-Col.  Pease,  of  the  49th,  and  Capt.  Bush,  commanding 
the  iyth  III.,  all  distinguished  themselves  by  their  bravery,  and 
contributed  by  their  example  to  the  attainment  of  the  brilliant 
result. 

The  conduct  of  Capt.  Ezra  Taylor,  commanding  Light  Bat- 
tery B,  during  the  whole  series  of  engagements,  was  such  as  to 
distinguish  him  as  a  daring,  yet  cool  and  sagacious  officer; 
pushing  his  guns  into  positions  that  were  swept  by  the  enemy's 
shot,  he,  in  person,  directed  the  posting  of  his  sections  and  in 
very  many  instances  himself  sighted  the  guns.  Such  conduct 
found  its  natural  reflection  in  the  perfect  order  and  bravery  that 
characterized  his  entire  command.  His  battery  of  six  pieces 
fired  1,700  rounds  of  ammunition  during  the  engagement,  being 
an  average  of  about  284  rounds  to  the  gun. 

McAllister's  guns  did  good  service.  They  were  three  24- 
pounder  howitzers,  without  caissons,  and  with  a  limited  supply 
of  ammunition,  and  without  a  full  complement  of  men.  One 
of  them  lost  a  wheel,  shot  away  on  the  13th,  but  it  was  supplied 
from  the  limber.  On  the  I5th  the  trail  of  another  howitzer 
was  broken,  and  it  was  rendered  useless.  They  fired  all  their 
ammunition,  about  50  rounds  to  the  piece.  The  cavalry  of  the 
brigade  (4th  111.,  Col.  Dickey,)  did  excellent  service  in  recon- 
noitering  and  in  holding  the  enemy  in  check  on  the  right. 
Lieut.-Col.  McCullough,  Maj.  Wallace,  Capt.  Rockwood,  and 
Capt.  Townsend  are  worthy  of  particular  mention  for  services 


REUNION  OK  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY.  115 

rendered.  The  field  music  and  bands  of  the  several  regiments 
and  corps  rendered  very  effective  service  in  taking  care  of  the 
wounded,  especially  in  the  iith  and  2oth  regts.  The  band  of 
the  iith  lost  their  instruments. 

The  surgeons  and  hospital  assistants  of  the  entire  command 
performed  their  painful  but  important  duties  in  a  manner  highly 
creditable.  To  Surgeon  Goodbrake,  acting  brigade  surgeon,  I 
feel  under  especial  obligation.  Surgeons  Kitts,  of  the  45th; 
Long,  of  the  iith;  Asst.  Surgeons  Hunt,  of  the  iith; 
Luce,  of  the  4th  cavalry,  and  Young,  of  the  48th  111., 
also  rendered  valuable  assistance.  I  wish  also  to  return 
thanks  to  Surgeon  Edgar,  of  the  32nd  111.,  for  attentions  to 
the  wounded  of  my  command.  Chaplains  Pearson,  of  the 
iith  and  Button  of  the  zoth,  were  indefatigable  in  their  atten- 
tions to  the  wounded  and  in  collecting  and  burying  the  dead. 

1  wish  also  to  call  the  attention  of  the  general  command- 
ing the  division  to  the  conduct  and  bearing  of  my  staff  lieuten- 
ant, Israel  P.  Rumsey,  of  Taylor's  Battery,  aide-de-camp  and 
acting  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.;  and  Lieut.  G.  I.  Davis,  nth  111. 
acting  Brigade  Q.  M.  and  Commissary,  also  aide-de-camp; 
active,  intelligent,  ardent  and  brave,  they  were  ever  ready  to 
render  any  aid  in  their  power,  riding  to  every  part  of  the  field 
amid  the  hottest  fire,  and  by  their  daring  and  coolness  con- 
tributed much  towards  the  success  of  the  day.  Private  Geo. 
E.  Church  of  Taylor's  battery  who  acted  as  one  of  my 
orderlies,  is  worthy  of  commendation  for  bravery  and  self- 
possession  on  the  field.  Many  instances  of  individual  daring 
occurred  that  are  worthy  of  mention,  but  where  all  acted  their 
part  so  nobly,  comparisons  seems  invidious.  I  cannot  forbear 
citing  two  instances  to  which  my  attention  has  been  called  bv 
commanclers  of  regiments.  Corporal  Smith,  of  Company  E, 
iyth  111.,  distinguished  himself  by  great  personal  bravery  in 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  Corporal  Armstrong,  of  Com- 
pany H,  nth  111.,  when  the  color  sergeant  of  the  regiment 
was  shot  down  and  the  colors  fell,  rushed  to  the  spot,  and 
seizing  the  flag,  bore  it  from  the  field  amid  a  storm  of  balls. 
The  flag  itself  was  riddled  with  shot. 

In  order  to  a  due  appreciation  of  the  courage,  endurance 
and  fortitude  of  the  men  by  Whom  this  victory  has  been  won,  it 


n6  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

must  be  borne  in  mind  that  they  marched  from  Ft.  Henry  with- 
out transportation  or  tents  or  rations,  except  what  they  carried, 
that  they  were  exposed  for  three  days  and  nights  without  tents 
and  almost  without  fires,  being  so  near  the  enemy's  lines  as  to 
render  fires  imprudent;  that  the  weather  was  extremely  severe; 
two  nights  they  were  thus  exposed,  being  accompanied  with 
driving  storms  and  severe  cold;  that  during  the  whole  three 
days  they  were  under  fire  and  were  compelled  to  bivouac  in 
line  of  battle  with  their  arms  in  their  hands.  Added  to  thi*, 
most  of  them  had  never  seen  a  battle  and  but  few  had  ever 
heard  a  hostile  shot.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  it  is  cer. 
tainly  a  just  matter  of  congratulation  that  so  long  and  fierce  a 
conflict  against  an  intrenched  enemy,  fighting  on  a  position 
well  known  to  him  and  unknown  to  us,  and  so  greatly  superior 
in  artillery,  has  resulted  so  gloriously  to  our  arms. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  L.  WALLACE, 
Col.  Comdg.  2nd  Brig.,  ist  Div, 


-XOTE.- 


It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  we  are  obliged  to  publish  the  incomplete 
proceedings  of  our  Belmont  reunion.  Many  of  the  responses  were  extem- 
pore and  as  no  shorthand  notes  were  made  they  cannot  be  recalled.  A 
number  of  the  manuscript  responses  have  not  been  preserved  and  we  are 
obliged  to  do  without  them,  hoping  that  what  has  been  preserved  will 
prove  interesting  to  many,  if  not  all,  of  our  surviving  comrades. 

Our  reunions  have  each  been  very  pleasant  and  we  hope  to  have  many 
more  of  them,  feeling,  meanwhile,  that  our  ranks  will  continually  grow 
less  and  each  succeeding  reunion  will  witness  a  fewer  number  of  comrades 
convened  together. 

The  list  of  surviving  comrades  we  fear  is  incomplete  both  as  to  ad- 
dresses and  names,  but  it  is  compiled  after  diligent  inquiry,  and  is  the  best 
we  are  able  to  make  from  the  information  at  hand. 

As  many  communications  which  are  sent  to  comrades  are  returned, 
owing  to  change  of  residence,  that  each  man  will  try  and  advise  either 
Comrades  Sauter,  Affeld  or  Pierce  of  any  change  of  address,  so  that  the 
record  may  be  kept  complete. 

We  are  indepted  to  Comrade  Scates  for  the  compilation  of  the  com- 
plete roster  of  the  battery. 

Now,  dear  comrade,  having  reluctantly  started  on  the  work  of  com- 
piling this  book,  we  have  continued  it  with  many  fears  and  misgivings,  and 
c'ose  it  with  the  hope  that  it  will  receive  the  kind  consideration  of  our 
comrades,  for  whom  it  is  especially  made,  and  be  viewed  with  charity  by 
others  into  whose  hands  it  may  chance  to  come. 


•Roht.  N.  Finney,  Chas.  Martin, 

Win.  H.  Bradbury, 
Senrt.  Abe  Heartt,  Chas.  Turner. 


Jno.  A.  Peckham,  Saml.  D.  Newton, 

Sergt.  Walter  Sherman, 
Peter  Schnur,  Wm.  L.  Heartt 


Win.   II.  Allanson,  Win.  llea,   Jr., 

Chas.  U.  Stevenson, 
Corp.  Win.  Turner,  Walter  S.  Hininan. 


Michael  Lynch,  .  Chas.  Edwards, 

Chas.    Kinsman, 
H.   R.  Clark,  Andrew  J.   Palmer. 


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SECOND  LIEUTENANT 

William  J.  McCoy, 

William  W.  Lowrie, 
George  I/.  Purinton, 

FIRST  SERGEANTS 

Charles  W.  Everett, 

Theodore  P.  Roberts, 
Timothy  M.  Blaisdell 
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Q.  M.  SERGEANTS, 

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Abraham  Heartt, 
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ter  Sherman, 
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NAME  AND  RANK. 

SERGEANTS. 

George  T.  Hatch, 
Benjamin  F.  Steph 
William  D.  Crego, 

Peter  Schnur, 
Edward  Rook, 
Harmon  T.  Chapp 

Schuyler  P.  Coe, 
Daniel  P.  Young, 

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128  REUNION  OF  TAYLOR'S  BATTERY. 

LIST  OF  NAMES  OF  SURVIVING  COMRADES  OF  TAYLOR'S 

BATTERY    B,  IST    ILLINOIS    LIGHT   ARTILLERY, 

AND  THEIR   ADDRESSES,  SO    FAR    AS 

IS  KNOWN. 

Affeld,  Charles  E 1 74  La  Salle  St.,  Chicago 

Affeld,  Frank  O 873  President  St.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Adams,  Walter  F Clinton,  Iowa 

Aspenwall,  Theo.  H Kenosha,  Wis. 

Anderson,  J.  S Waterloo,  Iowa 

Allanson,  W.  H Murphrysboro,  Jackson  Co.,  Ills. 

Barrett,  Samuel  E Randolph  and  La  Salle  Sts.,  Chicago- 

Boyd,  Thos Seattle,  Washington 

Burnam,  Arthur 822  W.  Adams  St.,  Chicago 

Briggs,  Wm.  D 136  Heine  St.,  Chicago 

Brown,  John  A 814  Dania  Ave.,  Chicago. 

Bradbury,  Wm.  H Council  Bluffs,  Iowa 

Bauer,  Michael 22  Lincoln  Place,  Chicago 

Burns,  Geo.  B Austin,  Ills.,  Box  107 

Chase,  David  F St.  Charles,  Mich. 

Church,  Geo.  E Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Chappell,  Harmon  T Harpsdale,  Huarfano  Co..  Colorado 

Corbet,  James 200  So.  Water  St.,  Chicago 

Coe,  Schuyler  P Geneva,  N.  Y. 

Cobb,  Henry  B Wilmington,  Del. 

Cutting,  John  T San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Cammann,  Francis  D Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Dickinson,  Albert 117  Kinzie  St.,  Chicago 

Dana,  Charles  D 10  State  St.,  Chicago 

Dudley,  Henry  W 261 3  Indiana  Ave.,  Chicago 

Dutch,  James  B 49  Board  of  Trade  Building,  Chicago 

Ellis,  Thomas Engineer,  Joliet  State  Prison,  Ills. 

Eckert,  Charles  H Emerald  and  5ist  Sts.,  Chicago 

Fleetwood,  Charles 19  Randolph  St.  Chicago 

Frazer,  John  W Levick  Mills,  Randolph  Co.,  Mo. 

Finney,  Robert  M 815  W.  Congress  St.,  rear,  Chicago 

Graham,  John Seneca,  Ills. 

Hebard,  Horace  S Kankakee,  Ills.,  Insane  Asylum 

Hull,  Richmond  N Challis,  Idaho 

Hatheway,  Valancourt  E Council  Grove,  Kansas 

Hunt,  Robert  J 217  Waco  Ave.,  Wichita,  Kansas 

Heartt,  Wm.  L 791  Leavitt  St.,  Chicago 

Hess,  Geo.  J Oxford,  Kansas 

Hall,  Melville Rockford,  Ills. 

Henderson,  Wm.  H Sioux  City,  Iowa 

Hatch,  Geo.  T .Peoria,  Ills. 

Jackson,  Charles  F 49  N.  Hamlin  Ave.,  Chicago 

Jackson,  Wm   F 286  5th  Ave.,  Chicago 

King,  Wm.  B Boone,  Iowa 

Klemm,  Otho Dillon,  Montana 

Kingsbury,  John  E 5138  School  St.,  Chicago 

Lilly,  B.  F 1066  Wilcox  Ave.,  Chicago 

Loomer,  Jasper  D Nashville,  Martin  Co.,  Minn. 

Lynch,  Michael American  Express  Co.,  Chicago 

Lake,  Lewis  F 1202  Chestnut  St.,  Rockford,  Ills. 

Moore,  Jabez  H Geneva  Lake,  Wis. 

McCoy,  Wm.  J 503  So.  Clayton  St.,  Bloomington,  Ills. 


Lieut.    T.  P.  Roberts. 


Sergt.  D.  F.  Chase. 


Niles  T.  Quales,  Timothy  Upton,  Jr., 

M.  S.  Poole, 
n.    M.  Sergt.  H.  K.  McCarty,      S.  V.  Prince. 


(  hileily  Sergt.  ('.  \V.  Mverett. 


REUNION  01-  TAVI.OK'S  BATTERY,  i  2y 

McGrath,  Justus  C 2534  La  Salle  St.,  Chicago 

McLaughlin,  Win.  W 47  Carondelet  St.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Machin,  Chas.  H 206  Broadway,  New  York 

McGee,  Peter ....12  Sherman  Place,  Chicago 

Morrison,  Peter 337  Troy   St.  Chicago 

Ousey,  Abel Ainboy,  Ills. 

Oliver,  Mervin  R 784  W.  Congress  St.,  Chicago 

Otis,  Charles Harrington,  Cook  Co.,  Ills. 

Purinton,  Geo.  L 6531  Harvard  St.,  Englewood,  Ills. 

Prince,  Win.  H 506  Webster  Ave.,  Chicago 

Poole,  Manning  S 518  Marshfield  Ave.,  Chicago 

Pierce,  Charles  W 24  Bryan  Blk.,  164  La  Salle  St,  Chicago 

Porter,  James  W Tacoma  Bldg.,  Chicago 

Pond,  Francis Hinsdale,  Ills. 

Peckham,  John  A Batavia,  Ills. 

Peckham,  Sidney . .    Middlebury,  Summit  Co.,  O. 

Powell,  John  W Open  Bd.  of  Trade,  Chicago 

Palmer,  Andrew  J St.  Anthony,  Iowa 

Quales,  Niles  T. 241  Milwaukee  Ave.,  Chicago 

Rumsey,  Israel  P.,  Lake  Forest,  Ills.,  Office  5th  floor  "  Rookery,"  Chicago 

Roberts  ,Theodore  P 38  Park  Row,  New  York 

Rook,  Edward  J 1 168  Fillmore  St.,  Chicago 

Ramsdell,  Alonzo 1223  W.  Harrison  St.,  Chicatjo 

Rising,  Henry  C Seneca,  Ills. 

Rudd,  Henry Box  1652,  Rockford,  Ills. 

Rodhauser,  Dirk  W Evanston,  Ills. 

Stark,  Charles  F Stark,  Minn. 

Shepherd,  Win.  T Auburndale,  Mass. 

Schnur,  Peter 448  Larrabee  St.,  Chicago 

Stevenson,  Charles  U Am.  Exp.  Co.,  St.  Joe,  Mo. 

Sweeney,  Daniel 117  Kinzie  St.,  Chicago 

Sanborn,  Win.  H St.  George,  Kansas 

Stebbins,  Walter  S A.v  G.  Spaulding  &  Bro.,  Chicago 

Stephens,  Benjamin  F Aurora,  Ills. 

Scales,  Walter 41O9  Indiana  Ave.,  Chicago 

Smith,  Vincenz ..Hampshire.  Kane  Co.,  Ills. 

Sauter,  Charles  J 206  Randolph  St.,  Chicago 

Scupham,  Win.  C Randolph  &  State  Sts.,  Music  Hall  Bldg.,  Chicago 

Stickney,  Charles  W Antelope,  Idaho 

Siller,  Charles  G 77  Board  of  Trade  Bldg.,  Chicago 

Smith,  Robert  C Rockford,  Ills. 

Smith,  Thomas Homestead,  Alleghany  Co.,  Penn. 

Turner,  Charles La  Crosse,  Wis. 

Turner,  Wm Dyersburg,  Tenn. 

Thomas,  John  E Salem,  Ind. 

Taylor,  Wm 376  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago 

Upton,  Timothy,  Jr 3638  Indiana  Ave.,  Chicago 

Yernon,  John  M 340  S.  Paulina  St.,  Chicago 

Van  Horn,  Garrett  R Rockford,  Ills. 

White,  Patrick  H 158  Clinton  Ave.,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Wyeth,  Mark  S San  Francisco,  Cal. 

White,  Geo.  Q St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Whitfield,  Thomas Wabash  Ave.  and  Jackson  St.,  Chicago 

Wicker,  Chauncey  W      Willoughby,  Lake  Co  ,  Ohio 

Wilcox,  Albert  B Vankton,  Dakota 

Wilcox,  Edward  P Yankton,  Dakota 

\VhiUle,  James  F .Prospect  Park,  Ills. 

/filltpGrove  M Livermore,  Humboldt  Co.,  Iowa 

Young,  Nathan  J .369  Garfield  Ave.,  Chicago 


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